Dec 5, 2024, Southend Echo: Expansion of Leigh special needs school set for approval amid growing demand
NW England
A SPECIAL needs school is set to get the green light for an expansion after exceeding its capacity while supporting a growing number of children with severe learning difficulties.
Southend planning officers have recommended approval for St Christopher School in Mountdale Gardens, Leigh, to build a new teaching block on playing fields and a new sheltered playing area.
There is no proposed increase in pupil numbers, but the new facility will enable current specialist teaching areas such as the ICT suite and the science room to be returned to specialist use for all pupils.
These specialist areas had previously been given over to teaching space to cater for increasing numbers of pupils that left the school “beyond capacity”.
In its application, the school said pupils were increasingly presenting with more serious learning difficulties.
It said: “The school requires a new four-classroom block to address compliance issues and meet the fundamental needs of our changed student population. Over the past decade, our cohort has shifted dramatically from 80 per cent moderate learning difficulties to 70 per cent severe learning difficulties and autism spectrum disorder.
“For pupils with autism who need more personal space and may experience sensory overload, under-sized rooms increase the risk of behavioural incidents.”
The school currently has 263 pupils.
The council received 14 letters of objection, with residents raising concerns over a lack of parking and traffic implications arising from more teachers and more pupils, highway and pedestrian safety issues and the “overbearing visual impact of the proposed building on neighbouring properties”.
Sports England also objected to the loss of sports amenities. It said: “Collectively, the proposals would result in the loss of the majority of the school’s playing field which currently consists of an oval macadam running track, an artificial grass pitch in the running track infield and natural turf spaces surrounding the running track.
“The remaining space on the playing field, if the development was implemented, would be minimal and there would not appear to be any proposals to mitigate the loss of the playing field area.”
Southend’s development control committee will consider the application on Wednesday.
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