THE St John's connection will live on in Alloa as the housing development based at the former Grange Road school will bear the name.

The lane allowing access for 12 new houses just off Grange Road will be named St John's with the likely suffix of Court or Mews.

It is a nod to the old school that now lies derelict, following the construction of Redwell primary.

As part of the development by Hillfoot Homes, the category B listed Art Nouveau style building will also be converted into eight townhouses.

Most of the 12 properties will be situated in the former playground where the new lane will lead into off Grange Road.

The street was named at Clackmannanshire Council's Planning Committee meeting last Thursday, March 22, when councillors heard there was a “healthy response” to a local consultation on the issue.

Nearly a dozen suggestions came in from a variety of interested parties, but one stood out.

St John's was picked by both Alloa Community Council and P4-7 children at Redwell while other options included Kerr to immortalise the respected local architect who created the blueprint.

Old School was another popular idea at Redwell, however, Old School Court already exists in Tullibody.

McNicol, after the popular headteacher who served there for 25 years, was also on the table alongside previous headmasters Wilson, Locker and Perry.

Another category of possible names sought to remember the local tradesmen involved in the construction of what was called Grange School back then, these included Philip, Walker, Bremner and McEwan.

Happy to support St John's as the new name for the street was Labour's Councillor George Matchett who knows the building well inside and out – having attended there himself.

Conservative leader Councillor Bill Mason commended the “first class” development scheme for rescuing and conserving the listed building.

Echoing that sentiment, SNP committee chair Councillor Donald Balsillie said he was glad to see a local company take the development on.

According to Historic Environment Scotland, the St John's Primary building is a rare and well-detailed example of an Art Nouveau (Secession) school. This is the style that was popular at the turn of the century before Art Deco and then Modernism took over.

And it is also one of the best surviving examples of the work of Alloa architect George Kerr, who used droved red sandstone with red ashlar quoins and margins on the exterior.