A proposal for a new 80 pupil SEND School in Hillingdon has been referred to the Secretary of State as a departure from the provisions of the Development Plan, in accordance with paragraph 3 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Plan and Consultations) (Departures) Directions 1999 and the application is referred to the Mayor of London for their Stage 2 referral.
The proposal seeks full planning permission for the erection of a new Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) school, with places for 80 pupils, together with associated landscaping, play areas, boundary treatments and car parking to occupy an irregularly shaped plot located on the south eastern side of Broadmead Road, at its junction with Ballinger Way within the Green Belt, close to the boundary with LB of Ealing.
The school site itself will occupy an area of approximately 0.47 hectares. The proposal would encompass the provision of hard and soft playspace for the children, extensive landscaping works and the provision of associated car parking. A drop off/pick up area would also be provided. The GLA and the Council’s Education Services have confirmed that there is a need for new SEND provision, particularly in the south of the borough as the only other specialist school is in the north of the borough.
The proposal would represent inappropriate development within the Green Belt and result in the loss of a portion of open space. However, the increased demand for SEND provision is compelling and well evidenced and it has been demonstrated that there are no alternative sites that could reasonably be utilised to meet this need.
The proposed development would be subject to extensive landscaping, including new tree planting, has been designed in order to minimise the use of land and minimise its impact on the openness of the green belt, including incororation of a green roof on the side of the building facing the remaining Green Belt land. It is considered that having established the need for the facility, the design of the development, so far as is possible, minimises the impacts of the development and would sit comfortably within its surrounding context.
The proposal received overwhelming support from the councillors as the space is not well used and a sports development had not been forthcoming.
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