Approval Recommended for Special Educational Needs School Project

A proposal for a school catering to 118 pupils with special educational needs in Cheshire has received a recommendation for approval. The independent specialist education provider, Witherslack Group, intends to transform Brookside Hall, located in Arclid on the periphery of Sandbach, into a school for students aged five to 19. Constructed in the late 1800s as a residence, the building most recently served as the regional head office for Sibelco UK, a material solutions company. A planning officer from Cheshire East Council noted the proximity of the application site to a quarry, clarifying that no active mining operations were occurring directly adjacent to Brookside Hall. The strategic planning board is scheduled to review the application at its upcoming meeting, commencing at 10:00 GMT on Wednesday at the Crewe Municipal Buildings. The proposed scheme entails a change of use for the site, along with associated works such as the installation of new fencing and gates, two new multi-use games areas, and solar panels. According to the officer’s report prepared for the meeting, the school is projected to educate approximately 118 pupils, and its play areas will be accessible year-round. The existing 133 car parking spaces on the site are slated for retention. The report indicated that the application site is situated near the Bathgate Silica Sand quarry, stating, “therefore consideration needs to be given regarding the impact of the proposal on the existing quarry”. It further noted: “Contact has been made with a representative of Bathgate Silica Sand who confirm that there is no active mining and working of industrial sand in the area immediately adjacent to Brookside Hall.”