Plans for a new special education needs and disabilities (SEND) school to be built outside of Rickmansworth have been deferred by Herts County Council, amid concerns about the access road to the site.
A meeting of the council’s development control committee met where plans for the new SEND school in Croxley Green were formally discussed.
The application for the school – which has the support of councillors – will see a larger SEND school replace the existing Breakspeare School, which is located at Abbots Langley, around four miles away.
The proposed site is located to the west of Little Green Junior School, to which the newly rebuilt Breakspeare School would act as a neighbour.
However, there were repeated concerns that the access road to the new school via a quiet cul-de-sac on Manor Way would lead to congestion and problems for residents. Councillors also questioned whether sufficient enquiries had been made for an alternative access route via land to the west of the site.
Cllr Peter Hebden said: “For me, the vehicle access to the school is going to be the crux of the debate this morning. I know it’s in the report but I was hoping it would go into rather more detail about the other options for access and why they have been decided against.”
Liberal Democrat Cllr Paul Zukowsyj said: “If the residents so choose, they can make life absolute hell for this school, absolute hell, and we’ve seen that happen.”
Cllr Zukowskyj then cited Chancellor’s School in Brookmans Park, near Hatfield, as having similar problems with “an inappropriate residential road leading to a secondary school” and added there has been “a concerted campaign by residents to block traffic in that road to the school”.
He added: “What we’re doing here if we agree to this development, is putting another one of those problems right in the path of this school. There will be a serious conflict between the school community and the residents in the area.”
The planning report states that the proposed new school at Croxley Green would accommodate 210 pupils with severe learning difficulties, aged three to 19 years old.
It went on: “These pupils would be supported by 137 full time equivalent staff, equating to 201 staff in total. The high number of staff reflects the profound needs of some of the pupils, in that a number of the children will require one to one care.
“The school building will operate under Use Class F1(a), and it is proposed that the school gates be open from approximately 7am and that pupils will arrive from 8.40am as part of the first of two staggered drop offs, prior to the commencement of the school day at 9am. The school day will end at 2pm on Mondays and at 3.15pm for the remainder of the school week.
“The application proposes the construction of a predominantly single storey school, inspired by a petal design, covering a footprint of 5,817.5 sqm gross internal floor area.
“The development will require a new access point, as the agricultural field is currently inaccessible by vehicles. This is to be made via the minor residential road, Manor Way, which is currently a cul-de-sac.”
The main site is classed as Greenbelt and was previously used as a playing field by Little Green Junior School; a small section of hardstanding still exists in the south west corner of the site which formed tennis courts.
“The application also proposes a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) within the grounds of the adjacent Little Green Junior School, as compensation for the loss of an area of formal playing fields to allow for the access into the new build SEND school.”
Principal planning officer Sharon Threlfall told the committee: “We’ve received 46 responses from the initial consultation. I’m aware that you have received a further consultation response that was circulated on July 15 following the publishing of the report.
“Yesterday morning, there were 11 emails submitted via the headteacher of the existing Breakespeare School, from parents and pupils at that existing school. Those 11 emails were all in support of the proposed development, identifying the need for spaces, the shortfall in existing provision and the limitations in the existing school.
“The 46 responses received during the consultation period all objected or raised concerns about the proposed development.
“The main issue of concern was the traffic impact, and highlighting that Manor Way was too narrow, that the road wasn’t built as an access to a school, that the local highway network is already congested due to the school, that there would be parking issues…”
Other objections claimed the development would “change the residential character” of Manor Way.
Ms Threlfall added that although the site was Greenbelt which required special circumstances to build on, there was a pressing need for a SEND school in Hertfordshire, with a predicted shortfall of 253 SEND spaces by 2025. The Care Quality Commission’s review of the council’s provision last year identified “widespread systemic failings”.
She added “there is an urgent need in Hertfordshire to improve our SEND provision” before recommending that planning permission be granted.
Public speakers were invited to make representations. Barry Grant of Croxley Green Residents Association, said: “We really look forward to the school opening and becoming part of our wonderful community, but we’re also mandated to get the best outcomes for residents.
“As expressed in our recent public meeting, residents, county, district and parish councillors all have reservations about the access aspect of the application.”
Guy Parks of Croxley Green Parish Council added: “The site is effectively landlocked, the only road that adjoins it is a narrow lane that has recently been closed to vehicular traffic. We asked how the site was to be accessed but received no reply.
“When we were consulted on the full planning application, we noted that three options at least for access had been considered but that access from Manor Way, which is the narrowest local road, a cul-de-sac, had been chosen.
“No reason for selecting that option had been given… The chosen access road will not be wide enough to accommodate the traffic.”
Merja Paakkonen, headteacher of Breakspeare School for the past 11 years, spoke in support of the plans, telling councillors that the existing school is oversubscribed and needs to relocate and expand.
She said: “We have the highest demand of SEND spaces in west Hertfordshire, in our catchment area, and these temporary solutions need to stop. We need to look at the solution that is permanent, that is long-lasting, and that is sustainable.
“The functionality of Breakspeare School is not fit for purpose, it’s outdated, it’s not meeting the demands of my students. The complexity of the pupils in my school is much wider than 10 years ago, these children need better facilities for their schooling.
“The proposed fantastic design offers opportunities for my students to grow through the school. They don’t have any more than one door to enter the school for the past 16 years. That is insulting, it’s not right for children and young people.”
Cllr Zukowskyj questioned the headteacher about the impact on pupils if, hypothetically, they were in a minibus and witnessed a verbal altercation between two drivers on the road. She responded that “that type of behaviour would be unacceptable anyway” and “it would need to be managed”.
Cllr Zukowskyj replied: “It might be unacceptable but it happens. And if you’re in an area where there is unsufficient room for vehicles to pass, it’s a more likely occurrence isn’t it.”
Cllr Fiona Thomson, portfolio holder for families, children and young people, also spoke in favour of the “hugely important education project”, which she said would serve the children of west Hertfordshire.
After much discussion about concerns over the access road, councillors voted to defer the application to the next development control committee meeting, in order to allow planning officers to consult the applicant over what options had been considered for the access road.
Chairman of the committee, Cllr Terry Hone said: “It’s patently obvious that we’re all very supportive of the facility being constructed, we want it to happen and the community wants it to happen.
“I think what we need to do here is accept the school can be on that site. But we need convincing, if you like, that all the options for alternative access have been considered, and that we can understand and accept the reasons for turning them down.”
The application will be discussed again at the next development control committee, likely to be in September.
Stewart Carr is a Local Democracy Reporter covering stories from across Hertfordshire, including politics, policing, transport, housing, planning and major local developments. His reporting focuses on the decisions and issues shaping communities across the county, from council meetings and regeneration projects to public services and accountability.
