NEIGHBOURS are worried about a historic hall's future after the go-ahead for a new-look special school in Huddersfield.

A two-storey building is to replace classrooms at Longley School.

Education bosses have decided to spare a hall dating back to 1870 on the site.

But its future use remains undecided.

Changes to the school will be paid for in a public-private partnership link between Kirklees Council and developers.

Margo Westen, who lives near the school, asked: "Could the old Victorian house have been earmarked by the private developer for some future enterprise?"

She said this would explain why the proposal for the major development very near her home needed the new school to be as far away from Longley New Hall as possible.

Councillors gave their approval for the new school building - despite fears about extra traffic. Residents said they were worried that an influx of cars would cause road safety problems.

But highways officials say they are confident there will be no problems.

The new, two-storey building is to rise on the school site at Smithy Lane.

Just three neighbours objected to the proposals.

But their concerns were enough for councillors to take a closer look.

Members of the planning committee visited the site before agreeing to allow the project to go ahead.

The old hall on the site was a girls' high school before the special school was established.

Huddersfield Civic Society has announced it is fighting to get the building listed.

Council education spokeswoman Sue Lord said it had not yet been decided what to do with Longley New Hall.

"It is not known if he is going to be refurbished or not," she said.

The new school is part of a major reorganisation of special needs education in Kirklees.

A starting date for work has yet to be announced.