Empty 19th-century primary school set to be transformed

The 19th century school building was put on the market for £560,000 in January

A former primary school is set to get a new lease of life. The former Kennett Primary School on Station Road in Kennett was put on the market for £560,000 in January.

Plans, submitted by Colourbox Montessori School Ltd to change the former school into a pre-school, have now been given the green light. Kennett Primary School still runs as a school, but moved from its former 19th century building in late 2025.

The plans were granted permission by East Cambridgeshire District Council. According to the plans, the pre-school will accommodate up to 64 children and employ 15 new staff members. The pre-school will open from Monday to Friday between 7.30am and 6pm.

The applicant did not wish to make changes to the existing buildings or part of the exterior. The trees, boundary hedging, and soft landscaping will also be retained as part of the plans.

The new pre-school will provide 10 onsite car parking spaces, alongside a separate cycle storage facility. There site already accommodates a playground.

The applicant said the proposals to reuse a former primary school are “wholly appropriate”. The applicant added that the proposals will “suitably respect the character, scale and design of existing neighbouring and nearby dwellings along with the setting, character and appearance of the wider rural surroundings”.

The school building was first built in 1865 by rector William Godfrey, who paid £700 for the construction of the school. Years later, a modern extension was added to the school after the expansion of the village.

Colourbox Montessori has nurseries in several Suffolk locations including in Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, Haverhill and Barrow.