Artist impressions revealed million-pound plans for luxury loft-style apartments in Sunderland's fire-hit Simpson Street School building

The million-pound plan to bring a fire-damaged Grade II listed building back to life has been revealed as Sunderland City Council confirms a deal to see the old Simpson Street School restored.

Flames tore through the roof of the Deptford building in January and it was feared the site was beyond repair.

The blaze, which is being treated as a suspected arson by police, caused significant damage to the property and the roof of the building.

Firefighters battled for five hours to put out the blaze which tore through the Grade II listed former school which opened as the Deptford Yard Church of England School in 1867.

Now, North East architecture, structural and civil engineering firm, BDN Ltd has confirmed it will seek planning permission to rescue the property, transforming it into a mixed-use development comprising office space - where the company will relocate its 12-strong team – as well as loft-style dwellings.

BDN has struck an agreement with Sunderland City Council to rescue the Grade II listed 1800s property which has stood empty since 2016.

The company – which was in advanced talks with the council before the blaze – is now able to share its plans to convert the stricken building into its own headquarters, as well as developing eight stunning one and two-bed apartments.

Sunderland born architect Richard Marsden, managing director of the Durham based firm, said: “Simpson Street School is a stunning building, and we are looking forward to restoring it back to its former glory and operating a big part of our business from it.

“As someone who was raised and lives in Sunderland, it is fantastic to be contributing to the regeneration of the city, and to be able to rejuvenate a building that has stood empty for such a long time.

“We’re delighted to have agreed a deal with the council that will allow us to submit plans to restore the building, and we hope that – if approved – we will be able to create jobs for local people in the process as we carry out our work to bring the former school back into use.”

If the proposals are given the go ahead by the council’s planning committee, the company is preparing to start work within weeks and hopes to have its office completed and ready to use by the end of the year.

It will then convert the larger section of the property into luxury apartments, some with a mezzanine floor, with the aim of having the properties available by spring 2021.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “It’s a fantastic outcome for a building we know residents in the city would want to see transformed, and once again demonstrates that Sunderland is a highly investible city.”