Disused Isle of Wight school set to become a maritime centre

Yarmouth Primary School has been empty since pupils moved to Freshwater in 2023

A maritime attraction's bid to use a former primary school building on the Isle of Wight has been approved.

Yarmouth Primary School was deemed "surplus to educational requirements" by the local authority.

It has been empty since pupils moved to Freshwater in 2023 and the Yarmouth Community Foundation applied to set up a shipwreck centre inside.

Isle of Wight Council has approved the proposal, which also includes plans to build eight affordable homes on site.

The foundation is made up of Herapath Shenton Trust and the Maritime Archaeology Trust.

It currently runs a shipwreck centre in Arreton Barns but applied to expand its services by also setting up an education and activity centre in the former school in Mill Road.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, deputy council leader Ian Stephens said: "We need to make sure we look at not only what we are doing for the site and price but the best value for the people of Yarmouth and the community."

The Yarmouth Community Foundation proposed to buy the site from the council for £435,000, of which the council would keep £400,000 and the Department for Education would be given the rest.

However, the meeting heard that before the authority can sell the site, it would need the agreement of the government to dispose of the school.

The Independent councillor for Cowes West and Gurnard, Paul Fuller, said it was "welcoming" to see a bidder who "wanted to put some community gain" back into Yarmouth.

Debbie Andre, who had been the council's lead for children's education when the school moved to Freshwater, said she was delighted a use was being found for the site.

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