250-place special needs school at Land At Colwell Road, Liverpool

What was proposed

A 250-place special educational needs school was proposed, with parking, drop-off areas, sports facilities, play spaces, habitat areas and access from Colwell Road.

“To erect a new 250 place special educational needs school with staff/visitor car and cycle parking, taxi and minibus drop off area, sports facilities; soft and hard landscaped areas for play; new habitat areas; associated plant and equipment with pedestrian and vehicular access from Colwell Road.”

“Access to the site will be via Colwell Road, with the vehicular entrance proposed opposite Croxdale Road, and the exit opposite Gainford Road. The proposals provide 83 staff parking spaces, 18 spaces for visitors/accessible bays/EV charging/mini bus bays. The majority of pupils will arrive/ depart by minibus or taxi.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site was a former primary school and playing field, now overgrown and fenced, surrounded by two-storey residential properties.

“The site is a former educational facility, originally developed as Finch Park County Primary School, later known as Colwell County Primary. Built between the wars as part of the Liverpool Corporation housing estate that included the areas of Dovecot, Page Moss and Longview, it was a two storey brick building, roughly E-shaped. The Mixed Infants School was on the ground floor and the Junior Boys and Junior Girls Schools on the first floor.”

“The main public vistas into the site are from Colwell Road and Seacroft Road. The site appears to be approximately level. The character of the immediate surrounding area is that of a residential area of two storey family dwellings. Proposal…”

Officer report

What people said

Ward councillors and supporters welcomed the school, while neighbours objected over construction disruption, traffic, parking, noise, road safety and local access.

“Councillors Councillors Daniel Barrington and Barbara Murray, Councillors for Yew Tree Ward The old Colwell site has been empty and derelict for a number of years and has been a blight on the community. We are pleased to see plans come forward for Princes School. We recognise the increased demand on SEND places and the new school is welcomed. It's positive to see the school’s plans to open up the facilities to the community. Page 255”

“The recent and ongoing roadworks in the area have been extremely distressing. The noise, disruption, and displacement from not being able to park near my home due to construction and work vehicles has caused significant anxiety. This development, should it go ahead, will extend and worsen that impact significantly. The construction process itself will subject residents to months (if not years) of loud machinery, dust, traffic congestion, and general disruption.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant’s agent addressed the committee in support and answered questions about the catchment area and effects on other primary schools.

The decision

The application was approved subject to the conditions proposed by the Director of Planning and Building Control.

“25F/1709 to erect a new 250 place special educational needs school with staff/visitor car and cycle parking, taxi and minibus drop off area, sports facilities; soft and hard landscaped areas for play; associated plant and equipment and new habitat areas on land at Colwell Road, Liverpool 14, with pedestrian and vehicular access from Colwell Road, be approved subject to Conditions proposed by the Director of Planning…”

“That the Application be approved, subject Conditions as proposed by the Director of Planning and Building Control.”

Minutes