Derelict buildings which have become a magnet for vandalism and arson attempts could be knocked down to build a new school.

Auriga Academy Trust is looking at opening a new school on the former site of Strathmore School, in Petersham, to provide "urgently needed" places for pupils with special educational needs.

Auriga already runs three sites in Richmond borough, including a primary and secondary school, for children with special educational needs.

Under its plans, the new school, known as the Clarendon Centre, would have around 77 students and 35 to 40 staff in Meadlands Drive, Petersham.

Old buildings would be demolished to make way for the Clarendon Centre and a school used to operate from the site. Strathmore School moved out of Meadlands Drive in 2018 after splitting into two sites - leaving the buildings empty.

Visualisation of the new Clarendon Centre Visualisation of the new Clarendon Centre. Credit: rbmp ltd/Richmond Council, provided in Richmond Council planning documents.

Application documents call the site "derelict" and said the buildings have "fallen into a significant state of disrepair and are a magnet for anti-social behaviour". This includes "vandalism and arson attempts".

Another statement with the application from Achieving for Children, the council's children's services provider, says existing state-funded mixed-sex special schools in Richmond are at maximum capacity and have no room for further expansion.

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The statement says 251 students from Richmond with special educational needs, who have education, health and care plans, go to special schools outside of the borough - some "at a considerable distance away" - as of December 5, 2022. Special schools in neighbouring boroughs are also at full capacity, it adds.

The statement says: "It is evident that more specialist school places are urgently needed within the borough, and that the supply of special school places, in particular, is inadequate to meet current and forecast need."

It adds: "Other sites in the borough were considered as possible locations but none has enough suitable spare space. As the site was until [recently] used for a special school, there is no change of use and would provide an effective repurposing to retain the site in much-needed specialist educational use."

The school would be for primary and secondary pupils. It would include ten classrooms, four specialist teaching spaces, offices, therapy rooms, play areas and a sensory garden. Members of the public can provide feedback on the plans and a decision will be made after the consultation has closed.