A school earmarked for a major improvement scheme to give pupils' first-class facilities has been given Grade II listed status - to the disappointment of Derbyshire County Council.

The authority had advanced plans to transform the learning environment at Darley Dale Primary School to give children new, purpose-built facilities under one roof. Pupils are currently taught in two separate blocks - which are 90 metres apart.

These are separated by derelict land which is not accessible to children with disabilities. The school asked the authority to see what could be done to bring children together onto a single site.

A joint planning application was submitted by the county council and housing association, Home, to Derbyshire Dales District Council.

The application proposed the creation of three new classrooms to extend the junior school site, so all pupils would be in a single building.

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Home would also build 15 housing association homes, together with seven houses for private sale, on the infant site.

But a local resident contacted English Heritage to request it be given listed status and this was confirmed on Tuesday 3 March. Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for schools, said: "I find it difficult to understand how it is more important to preserve this worn out, unattractive building over the provision of high quality education for the children of Darley Dale.

"This scheme would also have provided much needed housing to local people.

"We’re extremely disappointed this status will impact on our plans to give pupils the best possible learning environment

"The infant school site was built in 1913 and has been substantially modified - including the closing in of the verandas with white UPVC double glazed units along its front aspect. The building is clearly no longer fit for its purpose.

"It would cost around £500,000 to maintain and keep fit for occupation but even with that investment it still wouldn't suit today's curriculum. It also wouldn't resolve the split site problems or give pupils the start to their education they deserve.

"We've worked hard on this application to make sure children and staff have every opportunity to do their best and succeed and it would be a shame it they were to lose out in this situation."

The authority is to contact the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to ask for the Grade II listed status to be revoked to allow the original planning application to be considered.

(CD/JM)