A disused piece of land in Coalville that was a target for anti-social behaviour is to be redeveloped into a nature facility for a local school.

The area in Lillehammer Drive is next to Belvoirdale Primary School is considered to be a public open space.

But it has been fenced off for more than three years due to the anti-social problems.

Now North West Leicestershire District Council has given the go-ahead for it to be turned into a landscaped educational nature area to be used in connection with the school.

The plan would also see perimeter fencing erected, along with a timber pergola seating area.

A statement in support of the scheme says of the past three years: "None of the landscaping works to create the open space provision have been undertaken.

"During this time, no complaints have been received from residents.

"The associated section 106 contribution is partly being used to enhance and create additional open space provision at Coalville Park which is easily accessible from this development and which will more than offset the loss of this open space.

"It is requested this informal open space provision is changed to allow Belvoirdale School to be able to use it as an educational nature area that will become part of the school grounds.

"There were restrictive covenants placed on the land by BDW Trading Ltd at the time of transferring the land to the district council that the land cannot be used for any other purpose except as a public open space for the enjoyment of the public.

"However, BDW Trading have agreed to a Deed of Variation which has now been executed which removes this covenant and allows for the land to be used for education purposes, as allotments, as a community orchard or as public open space.

"The covenant also allows the erection of structures that are ancillary to the permitted use."

A council officer's report reads: "The site, which is enclosed by fencing, was overgrown and appeared to have been unused for some time.

"The proposed fencing had been erected but the gate was not.

"The fencing was erected following the granting of planning permission being for a change of use of the site to open space in 2014 and the fencing that has been erected was permitted under the earlier permission.

"The site was approved as a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) as part of the redevelopment of the wider site for housing.

"Planning permission was later granted for the use of the site as an area of informal public open space along with the relocation of the MUGA to an alternative site within the area due to anti-social behaviour problems at the site.

"The new use would benefit the local community as it would provide an educational resource for a local school.

"Therefore, whilst there would be some loss of informal open space provision, the impact of the loss of the site as public open space for the community is considered to be less significant in this case."