Planning process starts for new secondary school in Wisbech
The first step in the planning process for a new secondary school in Wisbech has been made this week.
DPP Planning, acting for Henry Brothers Ltd (on behalf of the Department for Education) has written to Fenland District Council to determine whether or not an Environment Impact Assessment is needed for the proposals, which will see a three-storey purpose-built school adjoining the current Thomas Clarkson Academy site in Weasenham Lane.
The proposed school will comprise a new, standalone three-storey building and will sit within the central southern section of the site while the existing access from Weasenham Lane will be utilised to the east.
Four MUGA courts are proposed to the south-west corner of the site. The proposed circular parking area is located to the east of the proposed school buildings.
Both car parking and cycle spaces will be provided as part of the scheme, along with provisions for electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs).
Modifications to the existing car park and bus turning circle currently associated with the Thomas Clarkson Academy will be necessary to allow the new school site to be operated independently from the existing academy.
More details of what the school will be like are also included including the information thee will be three stairwells which will sit to the south, centre and north of the school building, with the main corridors running centrally down the spine of the building. The dining and main hall will sit to the south of the building.
The screening letter adds: “In terms of landscaping, the scheme will be surrounded by hard and soft landscaping to screen the development and to ensure that it is integrated within the existing surrounding context. More specifically, a landscaping buffer will segregate the proposed development form the industrial units to the south of the site.
“The Proposed development seeks to provide 20 cycle parking spaces, 11 pupil drop-off spaces and 51 car parking spaces with an additional four accessible bays; the existing car park and access for Thomas Clarkson Academy will also be used by the School on a shared basis.”
The letter then goes on to explain that an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is required if the proposed development falls within the relevant thresholds of planning guidelines and is determined it would be “likely to have significant effects on the environment”.
However, it concludes that the proposed development does not exceed any of the thresholds set out within the relevant regulations, and therefore it is considered an EIA would not be necessary to support a planning application for the proposed development.
And says: “Whilst the proposed development will inevitably raise important planning considerations, we do not anticipate that these warrant an EIA. A full suite of reports is being prepared to accompany the planning application.
“It is our opinion that the planning application and associated technical reports can sufficiently address any and all material considerations, including any environmental impacts, and the EIA is not required.”
