A FORMER art block at a Carlisle school could be demolished to enable work for a new sports hall to take place.

Bosses at Austin Friars School in Etterby Scaur have applied to Cumberland Council for retrospective planning permission for the project.

According to a heritage statement the property sits within the Conservation Area of Stanwix and 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."

The application is being considered by planning officers at the council.