Pilot scheme in England to convert empty classrooms into community hubs

Six councils in England have signed up to the pilot, which will target areas with both high proportions of surplus places and a need for community facilities such as family hubs. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

Classrooms left empty by falling numbers of pupils could soon be converted into youth clubs or health centres, as part of a pilot scheme to be announced this week.

In the pilot a group of local authorities in England will be given £2.1m by the Department for Education to fund their initial plans for repurposing empty school buildings or unused facilities into community assets, with the first conversions expected to be up and running next year.