A Bracknell school that has stood vacant for years could be turned into housing.

The Bracknell Road site of Meadowbrook Montessori School in rural Warfield permanently closed six years ago.

Now, plans have been submitted to Bracknell Forest Council to convert the office buildings on the site into six houses.

The other site on Malt Hill closed in 2023, but has since reopened under a new education provider, the landlord has confirmed.

Developer Quentin Trivior Limited would like to create six dwellings on the Bracknell Road site of either one, two, or three bedrooms each. This would be done through internal works of the site, and not involve any new construction.

The project would involve seeking prior approval to convert the building from Class E, which is for office use, to Class C3, which is for residential use.

Located in rural Warfield, developers argue that the site benefits from existing vehicle and pedestrian access on Bracknell Road.

Future residents could park in the existing car park on the site, which would provide 12 spaces. 14 cycle spaces would also be provided.

It is not known whether the developer would like to create flats, or houses, with the available space.

The planning application has been validated by Bracknell Forest Council, but it is not known when a decision will be made.

The application is seeking prior approval, meaning the authority will have to decide whether it is a suitable space to be converted into housing.

A court case with a hearing in May 2023 ultimately led to Meadowbrook Montessori on Malt Hill having to close down. It was then officially registered to close on July 4, with Sarah Warner serving as the last headteacher.

But the current landlord has confirmed that it has since reopened under new management.

Information surrounding the reasons for closure of the school was sparse. The Local Democracy Reporting Service received evidence from a parent that there was a dispute between the landlord and leaders at the school.

Termly fees are between £3,482 to £3,947, with children being taught in the ‘Montessori method’, which focuses on child interest rather than a uniform teaching model.

Children with special educational needs were also taught at the school.

The school had received ‘good’ ratings from education inspectorate Ofsted upon it’s last visits in 2008 and 2012.

Inspector Michèle Messaoudi said: “Meadowbrook Montessori School provides a good quality education, meets its aims and has the overwhelming support of parents and carers.

“Children make outstanding progress in their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development throughout the school, owing to an outstanding curriculum, and they make at least good progress in their learning owing to good teaching.”

Correction: The Bracknell Road site of the school has been proposed for development into housing, not the Malt Hill site. This is still operating as a school.