A BOURNEMOUTH school has applied to build four houses on its old tennis courts.

In a 'justification statement', the private Talbot Heath School says the courts in Glenferness Avenue are now only used "as an overflow practice or knock up area" and are surplus to requirements.

It plans to use the cash raised by the sale of the land to fund improvements to its sports hall and swimming pool.

The statement from the Talbot Heath School Trust, via Western Design Architects, says: "The site for the proposed works of this application currently consists of four tennis courts which were originally used for Talbot Heath School to use as part of their sports facilities.

"These tennis courts, however, were not set out correctly due to the insufficient run off at either end of the courts for them to be used for competition tennis."

The school built new courts on the opposite side of the field along Rothesay Road.

While sports facilities at private schools are often used by pupils from the state sector and community - one of the reasons why the independent sector retains its charitable status and exemption from VAT - Talbot Heath says it has only received one request to use the old courts since 2014.

The school is seeking outline permission to build four houses with garages, and as yet no details of the design of the houses have been submitted.

The site is within the Meyrick Park/Talbot Woods Conservation Area.

Funds raised from the sale would be used to enclose the school's open air swimming pool allowing it to be used in the winter, with attached changing rooms and a link through to the sports hall.

The hall itself would benefit from improved heating.

Both facilities are available for public use.

The school is currently on Easter holidays and management staff declined to comment further at this stage, but the Daily Echo understands the plans are part of a larger revamp of sports facilities at the site due to be announced at a later date.