Proposal Submitted to Convert Tai Chi Centre into SEND School

New proposals suggest the conversion of a Tai Chi centre into a small educational facility for students requiring special educational needs (SEND) provision. The submitted plans for this proposed school, located at the Taoist Tai Chi European Centre on Bounstead Road in Colchester, detail additions such as a new playground, a revised car park layout, and new fencing. Should Colchester City Council approve these plans, the institution would accommodate up to 40 pupils, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). Keys, an organization known for providing “specialist education for children who have complex needs, including social emotional and mental health requirements,” would operate the envisioned school. The school, intended for children aged 11 to 16, is projected to achieve its maximum capacity over “two three-year periods.” The proposal also specifies 42 parking spaces, comprising two designated disabled spaces and two electric vehicle charging spaces. The application asserts that the school will not negatively affect neighboring occupants or cause any adverse impacts on highway safety. Furthermore, it claims the school will “provide significant community benefits,” in addition to reactivating a currently vacant building and generating both direct and indirect employment opportunities. The application additionally states: “The school will help meet both the existing and future needs for specialist education in Colchester and surrounding areas.”