| Application Type: Full Planning permission |
| Development Description: Special Education Needs School |
| Local Planning Authority: Portsmouth City Council |
Our team have been working alongside the Department for Education to successfully obtain planning permission for a new special educational needs school in Portsmouth.
The new school will accommodate 66 pupils from key stages 2 – 4 with an age range of 9 -16 year-olds who have highly specific special educational needs. The new school will employ 35 full-time staff who will use their skills and knowledge to help educate and develop pupils who require specialist help.
Following a pre-application, with Portsmouth City Council our planning team worked with a number of external consultants to address initial concerns including the loss of public open space, highways and access and built form. The team successfully overcome these concerns by implementing strategic solutions that gave the greatest benefit to the local community whilst meeting the needs of the school.
Our planning team managed the entire planning process including the project management of all other consultants namely, transport, ecology, architects, drainage, noise, contamination and archaeology. Given the social distancing requirements at the time, due to the ongoing Covid pandemic, Fuller Long organised a website to be set up to invite local residents to view the proposals prior to submission and make comments, rather than a public consultation evening.
Following the preparation of a detailed planning statement that provided a case for the justification and need for the school and a detailed assessment of the relevant planning policies and designations, officers recommended approval. The application was heard by the planning committee and ultimately approved.
Following the discharge of pre-commencement conditions, construction is now underway and we continue to work with the project team to discharge the remaining pre-occupation conditions.
We are delighted to be part of a team that provides purpose-built schools that have a direct and positive impact on young children’s lives. If you are in search of the right planning consultants to assist with your project requirements, look no further. Fuller Long’s skilled planning and heritage consultants have the knowledge and experience to help. Please call 0808 164 1288 or email us at hello@fullerlong.com to speak to a member of our team.
