Old Grammar School, School Lane UPDATE

Old Grammar School, School Lane Update

The Parish Council is aware that there is strong local concern about the Old Grammar School. Action is already under way and the Parish Council is grateful to residents for helping this process.

Current position

Cheshire East opened a formal enforcement investigation (reference 26/0442/ENF) and on 12 August 2026 served a Listed Building Temporary Stop Notice. The Notice remains in force until 7 October 2026 while officers and other agencies gather evidence.

The Parish Council has reported residents’ concerns, including works to the building, trees and hedges, fires and safety issues. We have worked throughout with Cheshire East, Ward Councillor Rachel Bailey, our Member of Parliament, Cheshire Police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

There is no planning application, no Listed Building Consent application and no HMO licence application.

Until a formal application is submitted, there is no planning process to object to.

Some information circulating online is not correct. Separate finance arrangements for individual sites are common in all developments. That does not mean any such HMO use has been applied for, approved or is certain here.

The Old Grammar School is Grade II*. Historic England still has a formal role on applications affecting Grade I and Grade II* buildings. Recent national changes do not remove that protection from this property.

How residents can help

If you have information that may assist the enforcement investigation — including dated photographs, descriptions of works, dates and times — please send it to the Parish Clerk. The Parish Council will pass relevant material to Cheshire East.

Please do not post that information on social media.

Please do not disclose background material online

A substantial amount of background work has already been carried out. That material is not being published. This is deliberate. Public disclosure of detailed background information, ownership research, legal arguments or speculation about future use can:

• attract outside interest in the site or other properties in the area
• be used later by a developer in any planning application or appeal
• prejudice the enforcement action now being taken

Please raise all issues with the Parish Council, not in public comment threads. Audlem Parish Council is working with Cheshire East, and have been asked by Cheshire East to collate all information to help with the enforcement process.

Meetings

Parish Council meetings allow only a short public session before formal business begins. If residents wish to arrange a separate public meeting, they may do so and the Parish Council would attend. The Council does not own the Village Hall; it is owned by the village and run by its Committee and Trustees.

The Parish Council will publish further updates only when there is confirmed information that can properly be shared.