Plans to build two classrooms for vulnerable children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Wokingham were approved by the borough's planning committee on Wednesday, May 20.
Applications for new SEND units at Keep Hatch Primary School and Bulmershe School in Woodley were both given the nod, aimed at increasing capacity for vulnerable pupils across the borough.
A speaker told the panel: “You’ll be getting a lot of these applications coming forwards over the next few years.”
Cllr Sam Akhtar (Con) said: “It’s really good to see an application coming through to support SEND schools.
“This application fits with the council’s wider strategy of council strategy of supporting SEND provision and is really positive.
“On design and build it’s within what we deem is acceptable. There have been no neighbour objections.
“On balance I’ll be happy to approve this.”
Keep Hatch Primary School
The detached, single-storey SEND unit will accommodate up to 15 pupils with six staff and sit on an existing concrete playground, so no sports pitches or outdoor play space will be lost. The design includes horizontal cladding, a flat and mono-pitch roof with solar panels, plus dedicated sensory and hygiene facilities. Highway impacts are expected to be minimal (about 14 two-way vehicle movements at peak times) and no extra parking is needed beyond the existing 39 spaces; cycle parking will be expanded and a school travel plan introduced.
Bulmershe School, Chequers Way, Woodley
The larger proposal at Bulmershe is for a single-storey SEND unit for around 25 pupils and eight staff on the school campus, with solar panels and landscaping. The development would remove about 280 square metres of grass, but officers say enough outdoor space would remain and Sport England raised no objection. Additional parking includes eight staff spaces and dedicated drop-off bays, along with improved pedestrian access and cycle storage; trip generation is expected to stay low.
Both applications were approved unanimously.
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
