Plans for four additional classrooms at a Calne special school are set to be recommended for approval by Wiltshire Council's Northern Area Planning Committee next week.
The application, for The Springfields Academy in Curzon Street, seeks permission for two temporary modular units containing four classrooms, toilets and storage, providing accommodation for up to 40 additional pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
The proposal is described as part retrospective, with the council's planning officer report stating that the modular units are already largely in place and actively being used.
The classrooms are intended as a temporary measure while a permanent satellite site is delivered in 2027/28, with the temporary accommodation expected to be required for between two and five years.
Springfields Academy is a specialist school catering for pupils with autism and speech, language and communication needs.
The additional accommodation is being proposed because the school's existing facilities are at capacity and there is an identified increase in demand for specialist education places in Wiltshire. The officer report says the additional classrooms would support up to 40 pupils while the permanent satellite provision is developed.
The school's own Statement of Need submitted with the application said it had an ongoing waiting list for specialist places dating back to 2020, while some Wiltshire pupils were without a school place within the SEND system.
The proposed modular buildings would be located on an unused grassed area between the existing car park and the Therapy Building, with mature hedgerows helping to screen the development.
Each of the four classrooms would measure approximately 54 square metres, giving around 216 square metres of teaching space, with the buildings providing approximately 301 square metres of internal floorspace once toilets, circulation and storage areas are included.
However, the plans have attracted some concerns from local residents.
Two third-party representations were received, raising concerns about existing congestion, parking and traffic, including issues around staff parking, parent drop-offs and taxis affecting nearby Springfield Drive and Curzon Park. Concerns were also raised that future increases in pupil numbers could worsen those problems.
Residents also raised concerns about the impact on neighbouring properties, including lighting, the visual impact of the classrooms, and noise from pupils.
However, Wiltshire Council's Highways team has raised no objection to the application.
The officer report says the additional pupils are expected to generate only around three to four additional vehicles, with transport continuing to be managed through the school's existing taxi and minibus system.
The report acknowledges the existing concerns about congestion and parking on nearby residential streets, but concludes that these appear to relate to the school's existing conditions rather than an additional impact directly caused by the temporary classrooms.
The proposal would also require the removal of four Category B trees to make room for the buildings. The council's arboricultural team has raised no objection, subject to conditions, with 11 replacement native trees proposed within the school grounds.
The development is expected to achieve a 10.53 per cent Biodiversity Net Gain, with further planting and habitat enhancements proposed, including native shrubs, trees, bird nesting boxes and bat boxes.
Calne Town Council has also raised no objection to the proposal, although its response was based on the additional traffic into the school site being managed.
The council's planning officer concludes that the proposal would provide much-needed additional specialist educational accommodation while making use of an existing school site.
The officer has recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions, covering matters including drainage, ecology, landscaping, external lighting and hours of use.
Among the proposed conditions, activities associated with the school would be restricted to between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday, while external lighting would be subject to additional restrictions to protect neighbouring properties.
The application will be considered by Wiltshire Council's Northern Area Planning Committee on Wednesday 16th September at 3pm at the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Monkton Park, Chippenham.
Full Meeting Agenda can be viewed here.
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