A FORMER art block at a Carlisle school can be demolished to enable work for a new sports hall to take place planners at Cumberland Council have ruled.

The decision was made on Monday (June 17) which means the work can now proceed at Austin Friars School in Etterby Scaur.

According to the officer's report earlier this year planning permission was granted for the erection of the new sports hall and changing room facility.

It adds: "This current application now seeks retrospective planning permission for the demolition of an arts block which formerly occupied the site of the new sports hall.

"Due to the orientation of the former arts block within the conservation area, the demolition of the arts block does not have a detrimental impact on the Stanwix Conservation Area or its setting."

According to a heritage statement, which formed part of the planning application, as well as being within the conservation area it is also within the boundary of the world Heritage Buffer Zone of Hadrian’s Wall.

The report states: "The use of the site has always been a private school for over 72 years. The site is laid out over 15.8 acres.

"The overall site is in our client's ownership is around 6.39 hectares in area. Austin Friars School was established in 1951 by the friars of the Order of St Augustine.

"Its task was to offer a boarding education for Catholic boys in Cumbria and the city of Carlisle. Girls were first admitted in 1986. Boarding came to an end in 1998.

"St Monica's was established in 1985, on the same site as Austin Friars, as a School for boys and girls of primary age."

The two schools were merged in 2003 when it was named Austin Friars St Monica's and in September 2015 the school changed its name back to Austin Friars.

According to the report it is the applicant’s intention to take down and remove from site the former wooden building called John Peel as a part of the regeneration of the site to the rear of the school and in relation to the formation of the new sports hall and changing facilities that gained planning approval earlier this year (2024).

The report states: "The building was used by the school for a period of time as classrooms for the art and photography departments."