Dilapidated school set for demolition

Byron Street School, Royton

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AN HISTORIC Royton school is finally set to be demolished ­- years after the move was first proposed then blocked by a covenant

Planning permission has been granted to raze the dilapidated and vandalised Byron Street Infant School which has been empty for seven years.

Asbestos removal work has been completed and demolition will start in he first week of January. The site will then be put on the market for housing

Byron Street opened in 1907 for juniors, infants and "babies" aged three to 14 years old, with children as young as 10 attending a half-times ­- studying for half the day and working for the other half.

It later became an infant school and merged with High Barn Junior School in 2008 to become Royton Hall Primary, which moved into a new building a year later.But plans to demolish the Byron Street were put on hold when a covenant requiring the council to maintain a building on the land came to light.

It was part of a 999-year lease from Sir Joseph Percival Radcliffe.

The council has now confirmed that it took on the freehold in recent months, which means the covenant has been removed and the buildings demolished.

Oldham Council leader Jean Stretton said any items of historic significance will be saved and added: "Once demolition is complete the site will be put on the market so private homes can be built."