The empty site of a former Gedling school is under the spotlight for potential redevelopment and some locals say they want a new community space.
Sherwood E-ACT Academy (the old Gedling School), off Wollaton Avenue in Gedling, closed in 2016 and the land it sat on has remained vacant and overgrown for several years following works to demolish the school buildings in 2019.
A multi-use games area, which includes a basketball court and goal posts, was part of the academy but was closed to the public in 2019.
Campaigners fought to reopen the games area around 2021 on the basis there were not any similar facilities nearby for teenagers. At the time, there were hopeful discussions between Gedling Borough Councillors and Nottinghamshire County Council, who own the land.
This did not come to fruition and the wider site has remained formally unused and undeveloped since.
But the overgrown patch has come under the spotlight this year, where the Borough Council’s Issues and Options document from July 2025 – containing identified sites for potential redevelopment and housing – has the site listed.
The local democracy reporting service (LDRS) asked locals what they would like to see the space be used for in future – a mix of opinions were given.
One woman, Mrs Smith, moved near to the former school in 2019 before it was demolished. She said the space being used for homes “doesn’t bother” her.
She said: “I don’t mind anything. I’m not keen on a three-storey flat block, two storey would be OK. I understand these days they need to get as many houses as they can – but is there enough parking?”
Mrs Matthews, 89, who has lived by the site for more than 60 years, said she would “hate” to think she could one day face a new housing development but said she did not mind “a few” new houses in isolation.
She said: “We could do with some shops. Houses would be like [new-build homes], how close they are together – I don’t think it would work very well.”
Alex Bridges, who has lived nearby for 25 years, said he would “rather it be kept as green space”.
He said: “Where it could be made into a mini park. It’s the only bit of green space around here without going into [Gedling] Country Park.
“I expect it to become housing but it would be nice if some part of it was kept as green space.”
Lib Dem borough councillor, Clive Towsey-Hinton, represents the area under the Phoenix ward and was part of the previous campaign to bring the games area back into use.
Echoing Mr Bridges, he said he wants “as much of the land as possible” to be kept for recreational open space.
He told the LDRS: “There are no recreational facilities in the area for our youth to enjoy.
“I don’t feel we can criticise our youth if we don’t give them some form of recreational facility… for the older children within the ward – there’s absolutely nothing for them whatsoever.”
One anonymous man said he’d like to see the land reused for a new school.
He said: “That would be good for the area. With the nearby [Chase Farm] development, it’s only going to expand outwards, schools are struggling around here.”
The LDRS asked both the borough council and the county council for an update on the unused site and any potential plans for it going forward.
A Nottinghamshire County Council spokesperson said in a statement: “The Sherwood E-Act site is part of our ongoing disposals programme, and we have been working with Gedling Borough Council to bring this forward as part of a wider regeneration scheme, and these conversations are ongoing.”
A spokesperson for Gedling Borough Council said: “The site is included within the Gedling Local Development Plan Issues and Options document as a potential area for growth.
“An assessment of all potential sites is currently underway and will inform future allocations in the Local Development Plan. The Draft Plan will be referred to Cabinet in the spring.”
