A PLANNING application has been submitted to St Helens Council seeking permission for a development on the site of the bulldozed Green and Dragon pub.

Proposals have been drawn up and issued to the council planning department seeking permission to create a special needs school at the site.

Applicant Daniel Jones has submitted the plans to the local authority for the former pub site on Gartons Lane, Sutton Manor.

The site was also home to a William Hill bookmakers' with both buildings demolished last year.

The former Green Dragon Hotel pub building was left as a burnt-out shell after being ravaged by a fire treated as a "suspected arson" in April 2019.

St Helens Star:

Firefighters tackling the fire in 2019

The building had seen several fires over the preceding years and a cannabis farm was discovered there in December 2017.

Plans seek to create a two-storey school building at the location.

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In a design and access statement drawn up by DV Architects on behalf of the applicant, plans state: "This scheme seeks to utilise this site as a new, purpose-built Special Educational Needs (SEN) School.

"The proposed school would meet increasing local demand for SEN schools and would offer quality education for up to 30 students across six classrooms, associated communal spaces and outdoor amenity spaces."

The document adds the proposed school would be a smaller building than the former pub was.

It says: "A two-storey mass remains in-keeping with many of the surrounding buildings and ensures that no existing property is overpowered or negatively impacted by the development.

"The proposed mass is significantly smaller than the mass of the former Dragon Inn public house and presents an assured yet less dominant form on the corner of Jubits Lane and Gartons Lane.

"The scale, proportions and architectural style of the proposed school building has been designed to be sensitive towards the surrounding existing buildings and to enhance the character of the local area following years of dilapidation on the site.

"The associated landscaping works create a pleasant frontage and a significant amount of green space in a prominent location, further enhancing the character of the area and the gateway to Bold Forest Park".

St Helens Star:

The site after the demolition

Plans add: "This location creates the ideal balance for the school location, allowing for ease of access for pupils and staff within the local area while also providing a calm, quiet and semi-rural environment which meets the complex needs of the students".

The planning application is on public consultation until Monday, September 7.

A determination deadline on the plans has been set for October 5.