THE old Accrington Fire Station could be turned into a school for "struggling" children if planning bosses give the go-ahead.
The new owners were this week revealed as Andrew and Fiona Thompson, who hope the grade-two listed building, which they bought for a whopping £385,000 at auction in February, could be opened as soon as September.
Unveiling their plans for The Phoenix Centre, which would school up to 50 11-to-16-year-olds, they said: "We see the school as being a centre of excellence where we can help children achieve in both academic and non-academic subjects, thus giving them the confidence to integrate into the community and develop into adulthood."
The couple, who also provide outward bound camping and canoeing trips for youngsters, own several children's nurseries across the North West.
Mr Thompson, 41, said the Manchester Road building was good value and provided a chance to help youngsters who required more attention than normal schools could provide.
He said: "We are not aiming to attract any particular type of child, but there is no shortage of pupils who need this sort of provision.
"Our classes will be very small, with no more than four or five in each.
"Initially there would probably be between 20 and 30 pupils and we would run under the normal National Curriculum."
Mrs Thompson, 36, said the school would create about 20 jobs.
When the building sold at auction in Manchester the guide price was just £90,000. The huge sale price, more than four times the reserve figure, led residents to believe a big pub chain had bought the building.
The fire station is covered by planning restrictions which mean Hyndburn Council's Planning Committee will only be able to consider minor changes.
Mr Thompson said: "We will be keeping the facade as it is now with just minimal refurbishment inside.
"There is space for about 10 classrooms as it is."
