Poole School Redevelopment Plans Agreed

18 September 2014, 08:33

Plans for the redevelopment of facilities at Hamworthy Park Junior School in Poole have been approved by councillors.

Members of Borough of Poole's Planning Committee voted to grant the council's application, subject to conditions, at a meeting held on Thursday 11 August.

The plans include the erection of a two-storey extension to accommodate four new classrooms and a single storey extension to the existing staff room. To accommodate the extension the existing timber framed external classroom and cycle stands are to be relocated.

The new facilities at Hamworthy Park Junior School will provide the space required for the school to grow, ultimately accommodating an extra 120 pupils by 2018, an increase of 33%. During this period the school will increase from 3 to 4 forms of entry, helping to meet the need for additional school places in Poole.

Councillor Philip Eades, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Borough of Poole said:

"The application is in response to the recent rise in Poole’s number of young children requiring school places. The application provides some of those extra places while keeping the character and appearance of the surrounding area. The application also provides an improved Travel Plan, which should encourage more sustainable forms of travel, improve pedestrian and cyclists safety measures and ease congestion on Ashmore Avenue."

Councillor Janet Walton, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Families and Young People, Borough of Poole, said:

"I welcome the Planning Committee’s decision which helps support our Borough-wide strategy to meet the demand for Key Stage 2 school places in Poole.”

Councillor Mike White, Ward Member for Hamworthy East, Borough of Poole, said:

"I am pleased that the school have involved me with this right from the beginning. I felt the proposals were entirely appropriate and am pleased to see that the Planning Committee supported this view."

Councillor Charmaine Parkinson, Ward Member for Hamworthy East, Borough of Poole, added:

"I am pleased that planning permission has been granted for the school to build this extension which is much needed to accommodate the growing numbers of children.”

Work on the redevelopment is scheduled to start this winter and the new facilities will be completed for autumn 2015.