A new secondary school for 1000 pupils is among a number of major planning applications approved recently by Brighton & Hove City Council’s planning committee.
The new secondary school would be in the grounds of West Blatchington Nursery and Primary school, which would also be replaced on the same site, off Hangleton Way.
A sixth form would be part of the development - a free Church of England school known as the King’s School, currently based in Portslade. Kings School has outgrown its current site and been searching for a new one for many years. It is projected to grow to its intended size within five years.
The primary school would remain under council control. The proposal would provide a modern unified building and replacement of a number of temporary buildings. Its capacity would increase from 463 to 483 pupils, including an autism unit and nursery.
A full-size football pitch, cricket pitch, mini-soccer, tennis courts, athletics track, sports hall and multi-use games areas would be included on site. Developers are also contributing £150,000 to local sports provision. A planning agreement includes community use of indoor and outdoor sports facilities, plus equipment storage. There is also a comprehensive package of sustainable transport measures.
At the Royal Sussex County Hospital the committee approved a four-storey extension to the accident and emergency unit. The current emergency department is outdated and has insufficient patient capacity. It has failed to meet performance standards for a number of years. The plan would provide space for 70 short-stay assessment beds over two floors, and complete refurbishment of the A&E department. The proposal aims to provide a much-needed fit-for-purpose facility, reduce pressure on scarce beds in the main hospital, and improve clinical care.
On Goldstone Street in Hove the committee granted consent for a new three-storey office block. It would provide a new HQ for Brighton & Hove Buses, replacing their existing offices at 43 Conway Street. The new building could accommodate 80 staff compared to 60 at Conway Street.
Substitute planning committee chair Cllr Claire Moonan said: “It was pleasing to be able to approve these facilities across a wide range of sectors, all things the city vitally needs – jobs, healthcare, education and public transport. This is very much what the planning committee and department are focused on.”
How the new schools could look, primary school foreground, King's School behind