Merrimans Lounge and Restaurant at Wyberton Fen will be demolished to make way for a special school

A longstanding restaurant will be demolished to make way for a special school catering for up to 36 youngsters.

Planning permission has been granted to bulldoze the Merrimans Lounge and Restaurant at Wyberton Fen to offer additional support for children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties following a rise in demand.

Applicant Aspris Children's Services operates the existing Bridge House independent schools on three sites in the Boston area, including on adjacent land along Great Fen Lane.

“The proposal would allow the development of a new special needs school in an appropriate location providing a significant community benefit and augmenting the operation of an existing business to the benefit of the local economy,” the Boston Borough Council planning officer report said.

“The proposal is sound in principle, and would be in keeping with the distinctive character of the locality.”

The Bridge House Group of schools caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties and, in addition, also operates Grantham Road and Carlton Road sites in Boston.

However, it is struggling to meet demand.

The planning statement provided by agent Alder King Planning Consultants said: “Bridge House School has a registered capacity for up to 105 pupils between the ages of 7 to 19 across the three campuses, with a maximum of 36 pupils per campus.

“The demand for places at Bridge House School is high and Aspris is currently unable to provide sufficient places to meet the needs of commissioning authorities, notably Lincolnshire County Council.

“Since July 2023 Aspris has had to decline in excess of 270 requests for placements due to having insufficient capacity.

“The school sites are all operating at capacity and there is simply no space at any of the campuses to provide additional space to meet the demand for placements.

“Furthermore, the Bridge House School site on the adjacent land on Great Fen Road is leased with no certainty of long term continued provision.”

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Merrimans - located next to the Princess Royal Sports Arena and Boston Aerodrome - closed in 2023 after a number of years of trading, formerly as the Ruddy Duck.

It’s associated bungalow, garage and outbuildings would also be demolished to make way for a purpose-built two-storey structure, with two rear facing single-storey outshoots forming a rear courtyard with both open and weather-protected outdoor areas.

“The applicant notes that due to the pattern of education provision it is unlikely that all of the 36 pupils for whom the site would be licensed would be present at any one time, and also estimates that a maximum of 18 staff would be using the site at any time,” the planning officer’s report added.

“The building is crisp and modern in character with the external walls partly finished in off-white render and partly clad in larch.”