English Heritage refuse to list historic Croxley school (From Watford Observer)

English Heritage refused to list Yorke Road School, Croxley Green Residents' Association heard last night

12:52pm Tuesday 9th March 2010 in News By Adam Binnie

English Heritage has refused to protect a historic Croxley Green primary school, despite the owners' plans to demolish it.

In January Leukaemia Research, who owns the site, failed to convince Three Rivers' planning committee to allow it to pull the building down and build five houses in its place.

The charity was keen to express that the planning proposal would provide it with “a much-needed funding boost” but was rejected in the face of strong public opposition.

Council leader and committee member Ann Shaw said after the meeting: “We all agreed that this was a historical building that needed to be retained. I wouldn’t have any problem with it being considered for renovation but what I don’t want to see is it pulled down.”

Steve Farrell, senior planning and conservation manager for Three Rivers District Council told the Croxley Green Residents' Association last night that, since then, Yorke Road School has been deemed “not worthy of national grade listing” by English Heritage, dealing a major blow to residents keen to protect the valuable building.

English Heritage, a public body, exists to protect sites of historical significance. A building can be listed as either Grade 1, Grade 2* and Grade 2, offering statutory protection from alteration or destruction.

The Victorian school, which was closed in 1977, is one of the last remaining buildings of the Dickinson era in the village. It is currently listed by local authority, which doesn't offer the statutory protection of national listing.

A new application has not been received by Three Rivers council for demolition or refurbishment.

Mr Farrell added: “The owners will have to demonstrate a strong case for why the building must be knocked down and not adopted.”