Sandal Grove Infants: Fire-damaged former primary school site up for sale

Wakefield Council said last year that it wanted to dispose of the derelict Castle Grove Infants School site and suggested retirement homes could be built in its place.

The school complex, on Pinfold Lane, closed more than a decade ago after merging with nearby Sandal Endowed CE Junior School.

In May 2021, a planning application to demolish the 1960s-built facility was approved but much of it was destroyed by fire six months later.

The 1.7 acre site, adjacent to Castle Grove Park, is being marketed by Leeds-based property consultants Dove Haigh Phillips.

According to the company’s website, it comprises 1.3 acres of school land and buildings, plus an additional 0.4 acres of parkland.

It states: “Sandal is one of Wakefield ’s premier locations within close proximity to a full range of local amenities, facilities, schools and offering commuter links to the Yorkshire region by both road and rail.

“This site is highly accessible, well located and has very few planning constraints.

“Local policies would support a range of uses, but it is suggested that residential, or residential-type, uses are likely to be the most appropriate in this location.”

A report to councillors in April 2025 said: “We’re rationalising and re-shaping our property portfolio and bringing to market some of our surplus assets.

“This includes the former Castle Grove School site in Sandal.

“There has been substantial interest from local and national planning developers for a range of uses including sheltered and retirement housing, subject to planning permission.”

Nadeem Ahmed, Conservative councillor for Wakefield South, questioned Les Shaw, the council’s then portfolio holder for resources and property, over the proposed sale at a full council meeting last year (April 9).

Coun Ahmed asked: “What consultation has been done with elected members and those that live nearby in this area?”

Coun Shaw replied: “We would always take that into account.

“We would always talk to people in the area before a final sale goes through.

“It’s important because ward members and the constituents around that area, they are the ones that live there. We will always do that.

“There are some times when you have got to weigh up where we are going as a council and where we go on income generation”.

Pupils left Castle Grove in 2015 to continue their education at Sandal Endowed, which was rebuilt and then became known as Sandal Castle Community School.