Councillors to rule on plans to form 'all-through' school for kids aged two to 16
The proposed development would allow for an ‘additional 300 pupil capacity’
CGI showing how the site could look, which has been included in a report to the development management committee
Councillors are set to make a decision on plans to form an ‘all-through’ school. Warrington Primary Academy Trust’s application for Bruche Primary School, on Seymour Drive, will come before the development management committee on Thursday.
It proposes the demolition of existing south buildings and erection of a new early years wing, along with extensions to the primary school to create an ‘all-through’ school, for pupils aged two to 16, to allow for an ‘additional 300 pupil capacity’ – with associated car and cycle parking, landscaping, drainage improvements and a multi-use games area.
It is being recommended for approval, subject to conditions. According to a report to the committee, the proposed development involves the demolition of the existing southern block of buildings, which are no longer used, and a small portion of the existing primary school to the north of the site, as well as the construction of a new secondary school block to form an ‘all-through’ school catering to children aged two to 16.
It states the primary school currently has approximately 250 pupils and 30 members of staff. A new early years building for children up to age five would also be constructed towards the north of the site, however, the number of early years pupils would ‘remain as existing’. The existing primary school would remain a single-form entry, with the secondary provision being two-form entry to ‘cater for a total of 300 pupils’.
The secondary block would be two-storeys, with a maximum height of approximately 9m. A sports hall and assembly hall are also proposed to the rear elevation. The sports hall would be equal in height to the main two-storey element and would join to the main secondary block and primary school via a single-storey link, which would also house a new dining hall.
An additional car park would be created to the front of the site which would contain 64 car parking spaces and a further 10 spaces would be created adjacent to the existing exit from the car park. Combined with the existing 14 spaces, this would result in a total of 88 parking spaces.
A cycle parking area is also proposed to the north of the site, which would accommodate 44 cycles. The application was publicised by press notice, site notice and 86 neighbour notification letters. A petition was received in objection, with 79 signatures.
And 14 objection letters have been received – with the issues raised, as summarised in the report, including there being ‘no need’ for a secondary school in this location, ‘insufficient’ parking in the surrounding area, local roads are ‘unsuitable’ for a development of this size, ‘highway safety issues’ for children travelling to school, the proposed building would ‘not be in keeping’ with the local area, the new building would ‘overlook’ residents, and ‘air quality impacts’ from traffic.
But officers are recommending the application is approved, subject to conditions. In the report, it says: “The principle of an extension to the existing school to create an ‘all-through’ school is considered to be acceptable in principle, and the development would not result in an unacceptable loss of open space.
“The design and layout of the proposals is considered to be acceptable and would be suitably secure. The impacts of the development on the local highway network and highway safety and residential/environmental amenity can be suitably mitigated through conditions.”