Construction of ‘much-needed’ SEND Hub approved at Scarborough school
A school in Scarborough has received the green light for a ‘desperately-needed’ special educational needs hub.
St Martin’s School at Holbeck Hill, can go-ahead with the construction of an SEND unit which is planned to open next September.
The Church of England Aided School developed the proposal with North Yorkshire Council and the Diocese of York, and will see the construction of an “irregular rectangular-shaped building” with solar panels on the roof.
The unit aims to “extend the main school facilities to provide additional teaching space for two classrooms that can be used independently from the rest of the school”.
In addition to the single-storey development, the scheme includes an extension to the car parking facilities, with the creation of 10 additional parking spaces.
No objections to the scheme were raised by Scarborough Town Council or by members of the public.
Officers described the proposed building as “modest in size in comparison to the existing and adjacent school building, and is located in a well-screened part of the site”.
However, they noted that there would be “largely unobstructed, long-distance views onto the building from the West and South-West across the playing fields,” but concluded that the building was “appropriately designed and the proposed materials are considered to be acceptable”.
In order to extend the parking area, the school will remove several non-protected trees and other vegetation.
However, these are to be replaced with the planting of 33 new trees, according to plans.
In terms of amenity, officers said that while the wider area is residential, the proposed building is at a “significant distance away from the nearest residential property and there would be very limited, if any, impact on residential amenity enjoyed by properties”.
The scheme was approved by North Yorkshire Council, subject to conditions.