WORK has begun on the site of a proposed "retirement village' on a former school site close to the centre of Great Malvern.

In 2012, the development company Audley won planning permission to build the "village" on the site of the former Ellerslie School, between Wells Road and Abbey Road.

But problems, including the discovery of a bat colony on the site, have meant delays to the project.

However, work can now go ahead, and in the last few days a large crane has been visible on the site, as work has started on demolishing the modern buildings

Nick Sanderson, the chief executive of Audley Retirement Villages, said: "We’re very excited to start work in Great Malvern. The activity taking place at the site currently is pre-works, involving some demolition, to prepare the site for the main building work to commence in June this year.

“This initial phase of development includes building the first sixty properties, of the one hundred planned, for over-55s. These will be set in and around renovated and new buildings with views over the Vale of Evesham.

"The village will include facilities for our owners and the wider community including a pool, health club, restaurant, bar/bistro and a library.

“We look forward to inviting prospective owners and the wider Great Malvern community to Audley Ellerslie when it opens at the end of 2016.”

The site was for many years the home of the girls' private school Ellerslie. Subsequently it was taken over by Malvern College and used to house its prep school division. However, it has been disused for several years.

Audley's plans include converting existing listed buildings on the site and creating new ones.

The bat problem, which was discovered in 2013, was solved by creating a heated roost and tree boxes for the mammals.

Last year a forgotten well on the site was rediscovered after a former pupil recalled its existence to the Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells. Audley said it would restore the well and make it a feature of the garden.