PROPOSAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR SEND PUPILS AGED 11-16 (KEY STAGES 3 TO 4) ON THE SITE OF THE FORMER PRINCESS LOUISE FIRST SCHOOL ON PRINCESS LOUISE ROAD, BLYTH
Welcome to the online consultation page which provides further information about the proposed development at the site of the former Princess Louise First School on Princess Louise Road, Blyth.
The proposed development comprises the construction of a new secondary school for SEND pupils aged 11-16 (KS 3-4), which will provide 80 school places, alongside access, car parking, landscaping, Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and outdoor playground space.
A full planning application for the proposed development is due to be submitted to Northumberland County Council shortly, and on behalf of our client, Bowmer + Kirkland and the Department for Education, we are providing you with the opportunity to view and comment in advance of the submission.
Bowmer + Kirkland and the Department for Education welcomes and values feedback and the aim of this consultation is to provide you with information about the proposals, and to offer you the opportunity to submit any comments you may have regarding the proposed development.
The Site is split into two parcels; the southern parcel is mostly brownfield land located on the southern side of Princess Louise Road, which contains the site of the former Blyth Princess Louise First School. The former Princess Louise First School building has been demolished and removed, however historic foundations, hard standing and services remain on the site.
The northern parcel is located on the northern side of Princess Louise Road, and is located adjacent to the southern end of the Blyth Sports Centre car park. The Proposed Development will comprise the construction of a 40-space car park on this parcel of land to be used solely by the proposed SEND school. Access to this parcel of land is currently via Princess Louise Road using the roadway which is currently used to access Blyth Sports Centre and car park.
The Site is outlined in red on the Location Plan below:
The Proposed Development
The Proposed Development will comprise construction of a new two-storey SEND school building on the southern parcel of land, to be named 'Gilbert Ward Academy', which will provide 80 school places for SEND pupils aged 11-16 (KS3/4) with Autism and/or Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH).
Dr Gilbert Ward established public medical services in Blyth, he was a Medical Officer for the Tynemouth Board of Guardians; District Vaccinator; Certifying Factory Surgeon; Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths for Blyth; and latterly Chairman of the Blyth Local Board.
Gilbert Ward Academy will have a strong focus on preparing young people for adulthood and will establish strong links with partners to ensure that pupils make successful transitions to Post-16 provision either in mainstream colleges or with training providers, seeking to reduce the number of young people recorded as Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
A planning application will also seek to deliver access, car parking, landscaping, a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and outdoor playground space associated with the operation of the school and to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of future pupils is prioritised in order to encourage a healthy learning environment for both staff and pupils.
Car parking will be provided for staff via the construction of a 40-space car park on the northern parcel of land adjacent to Blyth Sports Centre, which is to be used solely by the proposed SEND school. A planning application was previously approved in 2019 for an extension to the existing Blyth Sports Centre car park (ref: 19/02913/CCD) to provide an additional 28 spaces, however this was not delivered. The area on which this car park extension was approved is included within the area where the 40 spaces are proposed for the new SEND school.
A dedicated 'IN/OUT' vehicular access system is proposed to the front of the school on the southern parcel of land in order to provide adequate space for pick-up and drop-off of pupils by mini buses and taxis.
The planning application will be supported by appropriate technical reports, including a Transport Assessment; Daylight and Sunlight Analysis; and Noise Assessment, in order to ensure that no adverse impacts are created by the Proposed Development, which will be available to view on the Council's public access portal once the application is submitted and validated.
Please click to view PDF versions of the indicative plans for the proposed development
In addition to the visual provided above, please see indicative visuals of the proposed development below:
Rear of Building and Yard Space Visual
Play Space Visual
Providing your Feedback
This project creates an opportunity to deliver a new, high-quality educational establishment for pupils with Autism, and Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs on a brownfield site which was once occupied by the former Princess Louise First School.
Please click to view the consultation leaflet for the proposed development
Please submit any comments you may have using the 'Feedback Form' below, or by emailing your comments to consultation@dppukltd.com. Alternatively, you can post your comments to:
DPP Planning, Studio 012, Haylofts, St Thomas' Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4LE.
Please submit your comments on or before 12pm on 26th January 2022.
If you are unable to view the plans online via our consultation website and would like to request physical copies, please contact us at:
Email Address- consultation@dppukltd.com
Post- DPP, Studio 012, Haylofts, St Thomas' Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LE
The design team will record and review your feedback and will respond to key topics within a Statement of Community Involvement, which will be submitted with the planning application.
Once the planning application has been submitted, full details will be available on the Northumberland County Council website and there will be a further opportunity to comment.
We look forward to receiving your comments on the proposed development.
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Your personal data will be retained on our secure database and will not be passed to our clients.
We may also like to contact you to keep you informed about future developments relating to this consultation. You will be able to opt-out of these communications at any time.