Sandbach School revamp greenlit

Completing a clean sweep of approvals at its April meeting, Cheshire East Council’s strategic planning board waved the £60m redevelopment through unanimously.

The project centres on the demolition of 10 blocks and reworking of the grade two-listed Grammar School Building and Lodge Building.

These are prized heritage assets, having been designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The work centres around the removal of later additions to the rear, along with general refurbishment.

Contractor Bowmer + Kirkland is the applicant, working on behalf of the Department for Education.

The 9.40-acre site is situated on the western side of Crewe Road, Sandbach, within the town’s settlement boundary.

DPP, Jestico + Whiles and Purcell feature in a professional team also including Brindle & Green, Atelier Ten, Space Zero, HEXA, Gleeds, Ares, Arup, HPS Consulting, RPS TetraTech, and Environoise.

Works will include:

• Removal of buildings at the end of their useful life
• Construction of new school buildings, specifically a new teaching block, and a new swimming pool and sports facilities block
• These two blocks will be connected at first floor level by a bridge containing a new music department
• Refurbishment of six existing buildings
• New pedestrian and cycling pathway adjacent to the current vehicular access with new car parking and cycle shelters added
• New hard and soft landscaping

DPP’s planning statement said that the swimming and sports facilities in a new 80,000 sq ft block are also intended for community use, a factor welcomed in the committee chamber.

Approval was recommended, and was given with little disagreement, with one councillor’s comment that “this feels like great news for Sandbach” typical of the mood.

Sandbach School is a secondary school, with capacity for 1,200 pupils aged 11-16 and 300 in the sixth form. There are currently 205 pupils on the SEN register.

The proposals can be viewed on CEC’s planning portal, references 25/4731/FUL and 25/4732/LBC.