Councillors will make a critical decision regarding plans to establish an ‘all-through’ school in Warrington, catering to children aged two to 16. The application from the Warrington Primary Academy Trust is scheduled for review by the development management committee on October 19, 2023. The proposal involves significant changes to Bruche Primary School, located on Seymour Drive, including the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a new early years wing.
The proposed development aims to accommodate an additional 300 pupils by extending the primary school and adding secondary education facilities. The project includes associated improvements such as car and cycle parking, landscaping, and drainage enhancements, along with a multi-use games area. This initiative is being recommended for approval, subject to specific conditions.
According to a report prepared for the committee, the plans involve tearing down the outdated southern block of buildings, which are currently unused, and a portion of the primary school to the north. The new secondary school block will establish the first ‘all-through’ school in the area, designed to serve children from the age of two to 16. Currently, the primary school has approximately 250 pupils and 30 staff members.
New facilities will include an early years building for children under five, which will maintain its existing capacity. The primary school will continue as a single-form entry institution, while the secondary section will be designed for two-form entry, ultimately accommodating a total of 300 pupils. The proposed secondary block will be two stories high, reaching approximately 9 meters at its peak. Additionally, plans include a sports hall and assembly hall at the rear of the building, connected to the main school via a single-storey link that will also house a new dining hall.
To address parking needs, an additional car park is proposed at the front of the site, which will provide 64 parking spaces along with a further 10 spaces near the car park exit. This will increase the total number of parking spaces to 88, including the existing 14 spaces. A designated cycle parking area, capable of accommodating 44 cycles, will also be constructed to the north of the site.
The application was widely publicized through press notices, site notices, and 86 neighbour notification letters. Despite the extensive outreach, the project has faced opposition, with a petition against it gathering 79 signatures and 14 objection letters submitted. Concerns raised include claims of insufficient need for a secondary school in the area, inadequate parking, and potential safety hazards for children travelling to school. Residents have also expressed worries that the new building may not blend well with the local architecture, could overlook homes, and might impact air quality due to increased traffic.
Despite these objections, council officers are recommending that the application be approved. The report states, “The principle of an extension to the existing school to create an ‘all-through’ school is considered to be acceptable in principle, and the development would not result in an unacceptable loss of open space.” It further notes that the design and layout of the proposed facilities are acceptable and that any adverse effects on the local highway network and surrounding residential amenities can be effectively mitigated through imposed conditions.
As the committee prepares to convene, the outcome of this proposal will have lasting implications for educational facilities in the Warrington area.
