Secondary school with sixth form at Land North of Reedswood Lane, Walsall

What was proposed

The application proposed a secondary school with sixth form, temporary accommodation, access, parking, sports facilities, landscaping and other associated works.

“26/0700 Site location: LAND NORTH OF REEDSWOOD LANE, WALSALL. Application proposal: Full planning application for construction of a secondary school with sixth form, with associated access, parking, sports facilities, temporary accommodation, landscaping and ancillary works including ground remodelling.”

Officer report

The site

The five-hectare former golf course had been vacant since 2007 and was bounded by the canal, housing, Reedswood Park and a retail park.

“Ward: Beechdale, Leamore & Reedswood Recommendation Planning Committee resolve to Delegate to the Head of Planning & Building Control to Grant Planning Permission Subject to Conditions and a S111 Agreement to secure a S106 Agreement , and subject to: The amendment and finalising of conditions (including the identification of appropriate conditions relating to transport relates matters reliant upon item 3 below); 2.”

“The site has been vacant since the closure of the golf course in 2007 (LPA ref: BC37150P) and comprises a mix of open grassland and vegetation. The majority of the vegetation on- site is self-set, and planting has also been carried out by the Council’s open spaces team. The site is bounded by the Walsall Canal to the north-east, residential development to the south and south-east, Reedswood Park to the west, and Reedswood Retail Park to the north.”

Officer report

Earlier use and applications

The site previously formed part of a power station and golf course, while nearby land had permissions for housing and battery storage.

“Planning history Historic mapping shows that the western part of the site lay within Reedswood Park, with an area of what appears to have been housing in the centre. The remainder of the site appears to have been open land including old mine shafts. By the 1950’s, the site together with the area to the north-west had been developed as Birchills Power Station.”

“The 1993 application proposed a mixture of uses across different parts of the site, including residential, retail, industry, restaurant, public house, training centre and leisure uses including playing fields, fishing pool, nature conservation and golf course. Development of the overall power station site took place over a number of years with the final phase being completed in 2024; comprising the industrial units on Reedswood Park Road, off of Reedswood Way.”

Officer report

Public responses

There were 215 comments, including 210 objections, and a petition with 2,051 signatures against the application.

“The application was advertised by way of neighbour notifications to individual properties in the vicinity of the site, a total of 12 site notices and a press notice. A total of 215 individual comments were received (3 supporting comments, 2 neutral comments, and 210 objecting comments). Two of the responses were group responses from the Save Our Park group (comprising a group of local residents) and, Keep Reedswood Green.”

“Of the total, 23 comments were made on policy issues, including : • Loss of asset of Community Value • Contradicts the Council’s vision and its environmental policies • Departure from Development Plan Of the total, 69 comments were made on the need for development including: • Questioning the need for the development and the evidence to prove it is necessary considering the birth rate has fallen and that there are schools that still have capacity.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Two speakers supported the application and two opposed it, addressing education need, community benefits, open-space loss, traffic, ecology and residential amenity.

What members debated

Members focused on unresolved highway objections, access, parking pressures, open-space loss, ecology and the effect on nearby residential amenity.

“There followed a period of debate. A Member stated that they could not support the application due to the outstanding objections from the Local Highway Authority and concerns regarding the proposed access arrangements from Reedswood Lane. The Member considered it unlikely that parents would park in Bentley Lane and Old Birchills and walk to the school and expressed the view that parents would seek to park as close as possible to the school entrance.”

“Members further expressed concerns regarding the outstanding highway objections, loss of open space and the impact on ecology and residential amenity.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The committee voted five in favour, one against and two abstentions on a motion to refuse permission.

“Resolved (5 For, 1 Against, 2 Abstentions)”

“That Planning Committee refuse permission for application 26/0700 contrary to the Officers’ recommendation and delegate to the Head of Planning and Building Control to formulate the reasons for refusal on the grounds of highway impact, the loss of trees and impact on residential amenity.”

Minutes