(UK) Worthing: Special school for children with anxiety submits plan to expand

July 2, 2026, Sussex Express: Worthing school looks to expand with additional lodge-style classrooms

Courtlands By The Sea has operated Courtlands Independent Special School since 2023, offering special education for children who experience anxiety.

A full planning application and associated listed building consent application has been submitted to Worthing Borough Council by agent ECE Planning Limited to accommodate the school expansion.

The council advised in January that a single comprehensive full planning application should be submitted to capture all proposed operational and physical changes at the site, including retrospective works.

Planning permission and listed building consent were granted in September 2022 for change of use from offices to a care / school facility with overnight accommodation.

Since opening a year later, Courtlands Independent Special School has operated successfully as a day school. It has operated solely as a non-residential specialist school and the approved overnight accommodation has not been implemented.

This application therefore seeks to remove the previously-approved overnight accommodation from the scheme and change the use to a SEN school for up to 80 pupils.

It also seeks approval for two additional lodge-style classroom buildings within the grounds, installation of a modest multi-use games area and retrospective persmission to retain two replacement outbuildings.