Havering (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Plans for a new SEND school in Gidea Park are set for approval, marking a key development in Havering’s efforts to expand specialist educational provision.
Havering Council’s strategic planning commission is anticipated to grant blessing for the development of Balgores Special School at a meeting coming Thursday( December 11).
Proposed for the Balgores Field point close to the former Gidea Park Library, the new academy will be about 6,000 square meters in size with 38 new classrooms.
Up to a maximum capacity of 300 pupils, students ranging in age from four to nineteen will be accommodated in separate zones to suit the demands of various year groups.
A cafe, performance area, hydrotherapy pool, and entrepreneurial hub are among the various amenities listed in the designs; some of these are meant to be accessible to the public after school hours.
A proposed multipurpose games pitch for the new school is being evaluated by the council to alleviate the loss of a playing field, despite Sport England’s objections to the plans.
This pitch would also be available for wider community use, according to a council study that was released prior to the planning meeting. The report claims that this would offer “significant benefits” to the region.
The report said:
“This development would provide a specialised educational facility which on the basis of evidence submitted appears to be urgently needed to meet basic need provision now and in the future.
It considered that the new school has been both designed in a way to best meet the needs of pupils whilst respecting existing local character.”
In order to assist kids with disabilities, the former Gidea Park Library, which is located next to the Balgores Special School, will also be renovated.
Proposals for a new six-person residence at the location and possible future uses for the Harold Wood and South Hornchurch Libraries will be discussed at a council cabinet meeting on Wednesday, December 10.
How will the new school affect use of Balgores Field and playing pitches?
The Balgores shoot School development will enthrall part of Balgores Field, a designated playing field for the academy structure, parking, drop- off areas, and out-of-door installations, replacing current informal use while furnishing a newmulti-use games area (MUGA) pitch for pupils and implicit community access outside academy hours.
The council- possessed with an education-only covenant, loses open playing space to accommodate 300 pupils aged 4- 19, egging resident enterprises over reduced community access preliminarily used sometimes by bordering Squirrels Heath School and locals for recreation.
No full loss of pitches occurs; the plan includes a devoted multi-use sports pitch suitable for five-a-side football, remedy pool, and play areas acclimatized to SEND pupils, with landscaping to enhance sensitive spaces rather than traditional lawn fields.
