A vacant former community centre in Coalville could be given a new lease on life as a school.

Plans have been submitted to turn the building into a new special needs school.

The proposal would see the town's former Community Resources Centre, in Comet Way, brought back into use, if it is approved by North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC). The building was listed for sale by owner Leicestershire County Council in August last year.

Tenants then vacated the property in December, and it has remained empty since. Applicant Aurora Group said the new school would take up to 98 pupils, who would be a mix of primary and secondary-school age groups.

The children are initially expected to mainly be primary aged, but documents state this could shift over time. Planning documents state that the school would employ 56 full-time teaching staff and 25 non-teaching staff in a mix of full- and part-time roles.

It would be open to students between 8.30am and 3.30pm, with staff likely to be on site between 7am and 7pm, documents add. It would be closed at weekends, and there would be no overnight accommodation offered, the applicant said.

In addition to seeking approval for the change of use, Aurora is also looking to demolish the forecourt steel canopy and an existing shed and greenhouse on the site. Windows would be replaced and entrances adjusted to make the site more accessible, documents show.

Aurora also wants to create an outdoor games area for the school. Some 62 car parking spaces would be provided, along with four bicycle spaces. Access to the site would be via the existing entrances in Comet Way.

In its application, Aurora said it currently operated 25 services across the country for young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities. These include 18 schools.

It added: "The proposals provide a huge opportunity to deliver much-needed school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. There is a clear evidenced demand for this type of school in the local area, and the proposals make use of a vacant site which no longer supports the community."

The planning documents can be found on the NWLDC planning portal, with people able to have their say on the proposals until Monday, April 7. A target decision date has been set for Wednesday, June 4.