Archived decisions

Contact: Peter Colenutt, Strategic Planning Officer, Building Planning. 01962 846683

1. Summary

1.1. This report recommends a strategy for improving special education provision in south-east Hampshire and seeks approval to consult on a new site for the Sundridge EBD School, currently located in substandard premises in Cowplain. The report also recommends consultation on the proposed relocation of the Woodlands Education Centre to Leigh Park, Havant, following the major fire in June 2001.

2. Background

Sundridge EBD School

2.1. The former Education Committee and Executive Member, Education have for some time been seeking a solution to provide better provision for secondary pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties in south-east Hampshire, who are currently housed in the Sundridge School, Sylvester Road, Cowplain. This facility was flagged up by Ofsted in 2001 as substandard. The site is very restricted and unsuitable for expansion.

2.2. Following the closure of the former Park House Primary School in Havant, the opportunity was taken to consider adapting that building to provide 49 places for the relocated Sundridge School. Consultations were held in September 2001 with staff, governors and parents of the then Sundridge Unit and the local community. There was general support for the proposal, and the Executive Member for Education approved the development of the current Park House site as a school for secondary age pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Implementation of this proposal was dependant on the success of bids to secure capital funding from the DfES.

2.3. A bid for credit approval under the Targeted Capital Fund was submitted in December 2001. Notification was received from the DfES at the end of March 2002 that this bid was unsuccessful.

2.4. In April 2003 there were 119 secondary age pupils (11-16) in south-east Hampshire with statements of special educational needs where emotional and behavioural difficulties are identified as their prime area of need. There is no secondary specialist resourced provision for EBD within mainstream schools, with the Sundridge School operating from inappropriate accommodation, catering for 33 pupils (September 2003). The remaining EBD pupils from south-east Hampshire are placed in other Hampshire EBD schools, out-county placements, or are being appropriately supported in their mainstream placements. The proposal to relocate Sundridge EBD School to Leigh Park is an appropriate strategy in terms of pupil distribution, as the majority of pupils come from the Havant Borough area, with a significant proportion from Leigh Park.

Woodlands Education Centre

2.5. Woodlands Education Centre is located in Cowplain and was set up to cater for 42 FTE pupils. The centre suffered from a serious arson attack in June 2001 and currently operates in temporary buildings. Following the fire, the opportunity was taken to reconsider options for provision of the replacement EBD school and Education Centre facility. The proposal to relocate the Education Centre to Leigh Park sites the facility closer to where a high proportion of the pupils live and provides the opportunity of a capital receipt from the sale of part of the existing site.

3. Recommended Strategy

3.1 Having considered the need for two educational sites in Leigh Park, it is proposed to use the former Park House Primary site for the Education Centre and to build a replacement EBD school on potentially surplus Education land at Woolston Road, Havant. The Executive Member Policy and Resources on 8 May 2003 approved the principle of a property strategy for improving special education provision in Leigh Park, incorporating this approach and using capital receipts from the disposal of surplus land for residential development.

3.2 The capital receipts will be supplemented by £0.75m held in the Education capital programme towards the cost of the EBD school relocation. The replacement Education Centre will be funded in the main from the County Council's insurance fund.

3.3 A case is being made to support the residential development allocation based upon the need to fund specific education improvements within the locality. The willingness of the Borough Council to grant planning consent for residential development is central to the success of this strategy.

4. Consultation

4.1 To relocate the EBD school to land at Woolston Road, authority is required to undertake public consultations on the proposed relocation, followed by the publication of public notices. At the time of undertaking this consultation, the opportunity can be taken to update the local community on the proposal to rebuild the replacement Woodlands Education Centre on to the former Park House Primary School site. Public notices will not be required to relocate the Education Centre. This report therefore seeks approval to undertake formal public consultation on the provision of:

· a 49 place secondary school for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties on land owned by the County Council in Woolston Road, Leigh Park, Havant, currently held for Education purposes, being part of the former playing fields for Park Community School;

· a 42 place full-time equivalent replacement building for the Woodlands Education Centre on part of the former Park House Primary School site, Park House Farm Way, Leigh Park, Havant.

The timing of the Public notices will coincide with a major planning public consultation under a Local Plan policy `Creating Quality Places' in Leigh Park.

5. Former Park House Primary School Building

5.1 Following detailed work by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services and the need for capital receipts to fund the EBD school, the original strategy to undertake adaptations to the former Park House Primary School for the relocated Sundridge EBD school is now obsolete. Despite on site security guarding throughout the night and at all times during school holidays, the building has suffered from some degree of vandalism since its closure and, due the extensive remodelling required, it is considered an uneconomic solution not only for the EBD school but also for the Education Centre. It is estimated that this building will cost in the order of £58,000 to demolish, and this report also seeks approval for the demolition as a matter of urgency, to save on the security costs currently being funded from the Education revenue budget.

6. Recommendations

6.1 The following decisions are sought.

1. That formal public consultations be undertaken on

(a) the transfer of Sundridge EBD secondary school a 49 place EBD school on land owned by the County Council in Woolston Road, Leigh Park, Havant, currently held for Education purposes, being part of a playing fields formerly used by Park Community School.

(b) the provision of a 42 place full-time equivalent pupil replacement building for the Woodlands education Centre on part of the former Park House Primary School site, Park House Farm Way, Leigh Park, Havant

2. That approval be given to the demolition of the former Park House Primary School building at a cost of £58,000.