17 December 2010
Last updated at 09:02 ET

The Lion Street Education Centre, in Rye, was originally built as a school in 1874

Plans to demolish part of a listed Victorian school in East Sussex have been criticised by the Victorian Society as “wasteful”.

The owner of the Lion Street Education Centre, in Rye, has applied to knock down the art block as part of a plan to build three houses and two flats.

The school was built in 1874, but it is not clear when the block was added.

“It is wasteful and unsustainable to demolish a structurally sound historic building,” the Victorian Society said.

‘Damaging loss’

It described the site as an “interesting early example of a provincial board school, built soon after the Education Act of 1870”.

It said the art block was an integral part of the building, with a steeply pitched roof and large windows.

Heloise Brown, conservation adviser, added: “Its loss would also be damaging to the listed school building and the surrounding area.”

The Victorian Society is a national charity which campaigns for the Victorian and Edwardian historic environment.

It has urged Rother District Council not to grant permission for the scheme.