Planning Approval for the Expansion of Winchcombe Abbey Primary School

Brief

Planning Approval for a new Social, Emotional and Mental Health School (SEMH) in Brockworth, Gloucestershire. Rappor was appointed to consider the existing transport infrastructure and the potential issues arising from the expansion of Winchcombe Abbey Primary School.

Winchcombe Abbey Primary School proposed to provide additional accommodation, which would expand the school from 1.5FE to 2FE. The proposals included the construction of a two-storey teaching block, extending the assembly hall/staff room, refurbishing an existing classroom, and reconfiguring and formalising on-site parking provisions.

Issues and solutions

A key solution justifying the expansion of Winchcombe Abbey Primary School was an assessment of the forecast trip attraction and on-site parking design. Travel patterns and spare capacity on the public highway were considered through travel surveys and parking beat surveys. The surveys identified that the public highway could accommodate the increased parking demands and the reconfiguration of the staff car park maximised the amount of parking provision available to staff.

Through the assessment work undertaken by Rappor it was demonstrated that the proposed expansion would not have an unacceptable impact on highway safety or that the residual cumulative impacts on the road network would be severe.

Moreover, with an extremely robust Travel Plan in place there is a real opportunity to build upon the sustainable travel culture already in place to ensure that the school can be a good neighbour and most importantly for the children travel to school safely.

Results

Winchcombe Abbey Primary School expansion has been granted planning permission.