Stockport to approve 106,000 sq ft replacement for RAAC-riddled school
Bramhall High School off Seal Road is to be torn down once the new-build, three-storey school has been constructed next door, subject to securing planning consent next week.
Stockport Council has recommended the 106,000 sq ft project for approval when its planning committee meets next Thursday.
Contractor Willmott Dixon applied for permission for the project in May.
The school would be 51,000 sq ft smaller than the current sprawling, RAAC-riddled estate.
Designed by Sheppard Robson, the new facility will be home to the school’s 1,350 pupils and will feature:
- 25 classrooms, including a specialist drama studio, 10 science labs, workshops, computing and ICT classrooms, art & design classrooms
- Five SEN classrooms
- An assembly hall with tiered seating
- Staff, catering and support facilities
- Indoor four-court sports hall, activity room and changing facilities
- Two replacement multi-use games areas (MUGAs)
- Provision of a new all-weather pitch beside the retained hockey pitch to be delivered by Stockport Council
- New staff car park, including dedicated parking for SEMH and accessible parking bays
- 200-capacity covered bike storage facility
- New off-street bus stops and turning area for school services
The project is being backed by the government’s School Rebuilding Programme. Due to the extent of the RAAC discovered in the complex, urgent remediation works have been undertaken.
PlanRed is advising on planning matters. To learn more, search for reference number DC/098847 on Stockport Council’s planning portal.
Excellent news – good things CAN happen quickly !
By JohnSmith
Great news but it needs to be much bigger given all the new housing proposed on the Green Belt in this area
By Anonymous
Great news when will the outcome of the planning committee be public ?
By Peter Parker
Peter – the planning committee is held in public. So the outcome will be public at the moment it occurs.
By Spidey sense
Anonymous – it can’t be bigger because government funding is only available to rebuild it at the same size. The council does ask larger developments to make financial contributions to provide additional school places but there is apparently an excess of secondary places across the borough at the moment, and forecast for the next 5+ years, so asking for confirmations additional places couldn’t be justified.
By Anonymous
The restrictions on rebuilding on a “like for like” basis, in terms of capacity, shows the usual failure of government, to look at various circumstances. Currently, Hazel Grove High is oversubscribed, while Bramhall has some spaces, apparently Stockport high schools are under pressure. When the 25,000+ homes are built, Hazel Grove will still be oversubscribed and BHS won’t be able to take all of the additional pupils. Large numbers will probably be spread much further afield, but where?
By Anonymous
Excellent news. Where, exactly will the new school be built and when do they expect the new school be completed?
By Vivienne