A HISTORIC Victorian school is facing the threat of demolition for a second time under a Hampshire college’s plans.

Bosses at Eastleigh College want to build ten homes on one of its satellite sites, in Cranbury Road, which it wants to sell to fund future development on its main campus.

But residents have made a last-ditch bid to block their plans as it is also home to the former Cranbury Road Infants’ School.

Although efforts to protect the building by getting it listed status have previously failed, a campaigner has made a fresh application.

The college wants to build a £12.4m building at its main campus, which it hopes to partially finance by selling off its Cranbury Road site.

Courses currently taught there would be relocated to the main campus, in Chestnut Avenue.

This is not the first time that the school, built in 1892, has faced the axe.

In 2007 Eastleigh borough councillors refused planning permission over drainage concerns, but this was overturned on appeal.

The council’s bid for listed building status was turned down, however the plans did not progress.

Now a resident has made a fresh application to English Heritage for listed status, which would mean that the college would have to apply for consent to demolish the school – even if councillors approved the plans.

The issue will be debated tomorrow but a report to the council recommends approval.

However five residents have objected, amid fears over the loss of the building, increased traffic and problems parking.

The Victorian Society is also against the idea, while conservation adviser Sarah Caradec says that the loss would be unjustified.

The council’s report also quotes its conservation architect saying it would be “a great pity” to lose the building, which is one of few examples of infants’ schools of this age in the country.

The plan is also a blow for Southampton and District Motorcycle Club, which had come to an arrangement with the college to use its car park for members after moving into the community centre next door.

A college spokesperson said that the old school building was not a suitable modern learning environment and was extremely expensive to heat and maintain.

They said: “Education funding must be focused on supporting students with their learning and not on patching up aging school buildings that are at the end of their useful lives.

“This Victorian building is unremarkable and is similar to numerous others from the same era.”