A FORMER lodging house will be transformed into a revolutionary school building after plans were given the green light by the borough council.

The Model Lodging House in Police Street, which has stood empty for many years, will become the new home for Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio from September 2014.

The school, which caters for children aged 14 to 19, launched its own space within Darwen Aldridge Community Academy in Sudell Road after a £4.1million grant from the Department for Education in September.

In a departure from traditional schooling, the studio offers mainstream qualifications, delivered through commercial business-based projects, including work experience placements with companies throughout the borough.

Principal Ruth Bradbury said she was ecstatic that Blackburn with Darwen Council had approved the plans.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted.

“We have 50 year-10 students and 21 year-12 at the moment, but once we get to the new building we can recruit 75 at years 10, 11 and 12. We do have enough room where we are but we couldn’t have any more students. Despite being within the academy, we have established our own routines and an ethos and culture. I think we have done well to establish that within another school.

“But it will be fantastic to have our own space and it will help reinforce everything we have achieved here so far.”

Mrs Bradbury said they were looking to start work on the old building, which opened as a lodging house in 1897, within the next few weeks.

She said: “We will have the remainder of this school year where we are before moving next September.”