By working proactively with Arc Partnership, the Local Planning Authority, consultants and various consultees and creating a strong case in terms of highway and pedestrian safety and sustainable transport options planning permission was achieved.
A significant and sustainably designed expansion of the school building plus new on-site outdoor facilities using the adjoining land already reserved for the school.
• Expansion to facilitate a 2 FE school being a requirement of the Section 106 Agreement for the Fernwood SUE.
• Provision of additional sports facilities alongside achieving habitat creation/10% BNG on site.
• The site is bound by residential properties, meaning impact on neighbour amenity needed to be carefully considered.
• The available land for the school expansion was fixed at the master planningstage for the Fernwood Sustainable Urban Extension such that the later policy requirement for an on site drop and collection zone for vehicles could not be accommodated. This required careful negotiation and then persuasion at committee including measures to limit car usage by parents and staff and address highway safety concerns.
• Negotiating the wording of all draft planning conditions.
• Clearance of all relevant conditions on time at the required stages, including liaison with the LPA to allow the build programme to progress without any delays.
“Planning permission was achieved with relevant conditions discharged to allow the development to start on site in accordance with the required work programme, which will allow the extension to be ready for children by September 2026 to serve the growing Fernwood community.”
