SEND school at Wild Goose Lodge Shepherds Patch, Slimbridge, Gloucester

What was proposed

The application proposed changing a vacant youth hostel into a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities school without external building alterations.

“The Planning Officer introduced the item as a change of use from a youth hostel (Sui Generis) to a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school (Class F1(a)). He outlined the following context for the site: • The site had been vacant since 2022 • There were no external alterations to the building, and internal works, not requiring planning permission, had already been undertaken. • The building sat within a large plot of land accessed by an unnamed road.”

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Earlier use and application

The site had been vacant since 2022, and an earlier application was refused in 2025 because of highways concerns.

“The applicant, Belong Learning, had been searching for a new site following the closure of their previous residency in Winstones School, and had identified this site as suitable due to the room sizes and facilities. The close proximity of the site to Slimbridge Wildlife Wetlands Trust and the rural situation provided good therapeutic resources for the students. No additional off-street parking would be required as this was self-contained within the site.”

“The Planning Officer explained that a previous application for the site had been refused in 2025 due to highways concerns. This application had been submitted with a revised transport and travel plan. This included a proposal to use a nearby football club car park for drop offs and pickups, with transport by minibus to the site.”

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Concerns about the proposal

Concerns focused on narrow roads, parking capacity, enforceability of transport arrangements, flooding, emergency evacuation and impacts from the nearby battery storage facility.

“The site was in close proximity to a consented battery storage facility, and no emergency evacuation, mitigation, or response strategy had been submitted for a major incident at that neighbouring facility. • The proposal conflicted with national and local planning policies on protecting vulnerable users from environmental hazards and avoiding developments that negatively impacted health and wellbeing.”

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Who spoke

The ward member and a parish councillor spoke against the application, while the planning agent spoke in support.

Members’ discussion

Members weighed the established need for SEND facilities and the benefits of reusing the building against concerns about access, parking and the travel plan.

“Councillor Mathews recognised the issues of the site regarding evacuation procedures, access, and parking, however explained that great weight placed on the application by the need for SEND facilities in the NPPF outweighed these concerns and he would be supporting permission.”

“Councillor Hill agreed with her fellow Councillors on the established need for the site and the benefits of using an existing building. She raised concerns about the proximity of the proposed football club parking to Slimbridge Primary School and offered the car park of Slimbridge Village Hall as an alternative suggestion.”

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The vote and decision

The committee granted permission with updated conditions and advice about e-bike charging, following ten votes in favour, none against and two abstentions.

“After being put to a vote, the motion was carried with 10 votes in favour, 0 votes against and 2 abstentions.”

“RESOLVED That planning permission is granted subject to the conditions updated within late pages and with an advisory condition to include provision for e-bike charging.”

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