PLANS to demolish the former Trinity House School to create a Hull city centre car park and event space have been given the go-ahead.

The development is earmarked for the main courtyard at the historic Trinity House complex in Hull’s Old Town.

The old school buildings that overlook the courtyard have been empty since pupils moved to a new site in George Street last year.

Now, planning councillors have approved proposals by the ancient guild of mariners to demolish the old school and create a new short-stay car park in the courtyard.

Access to the car park will be via Posterngate in a move designed to overcome a previous dispute between Trinity House and Hull City Council over the latter’s recent pedestrianisation of Princes Dock Street.

The original car park plan featured an access route via Princes Dock Street through the landmark archway that leads to the courtyard.

Trinity House trustee Captain Dennis Robinson said: “The Hull Trinity House charity trustees are pleased with the unanimous decision to allow the demolition of the old school building and the development of the site, along with other potential opportunities to use the space for markets, concerts and other public events leading up to the City of Culture year in 2017 and beyond.

“Hull Trinity House has been at the heart of Hull for more than 600 years and is looking forward to assisting in the regeneration of the Old Town area.”

The old school was built on the site in 1842. It was modernised in 1956 and a third floor was added in 1973.

In a submission with the planning application, the trust said: “The building has been much changed over the years.

“It is at the end of its useful life and in poor condition. Major work would be required to all elements of the structure to bring it back into use and the room layout is not easily adaptable.”

Although the old school is not a listed building, the demolition plan and the proposal to create a new car park attracted just over 100 letters of objection.

National conservation body English Heritage supported the demolition but said the car park would not be a positive addition to the Old Town Conservation Area.

Councillor Rilba Jones, who represents the city centre, said she welcomed the facelift for the historic site.

She also said English Heritage’s criticism of the car park was misplaced.

“I get the feeling they have looked at this in insolation and not in the context of what we are trying to do to make the city centre a more attractive place to visit.

“The buildings to be demolished have no architectural merit and opening up this space with new footpaths will provide a great new benefit to the public.”

Maritime history of Hull school

THE guild of masters, pilots and seamen, which came to be known as Trinity House, was first formed in 1369.

The House has been on the same site in the city’s Old Town since 1461 but the oldest current building there dates back to 1753.

Original windows installed then now look out onto an internal courtyard, smaller than the one at the centre of the current planning application.

The two-storey Georgian building used to accommodate pensioners but is now used as offices by the charitable trust, which still manages retirement homes off Anlaby High Road in west Hull.

The complex also houses a first-floor council room, a court room and a museum.

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