United Academy Long Sutton granted permission to demolish buildings to make way for major site revamp including new block and sports area

A school has been granted permission to demolish ‘no-longer fit for purpose’ buildings to make way for a three-storey education block as part of a major redesign of its grounds.

The plans - which also included requests for revamped sports and informal recreational spaces and additional landscaping at University Academy Long Sutton - have been given the green light by South Holland District Council.

The school - which caters for youngsters aged between 11 and 16 - will also revise its internal vehicle and pedestrian routes, including the creation of revised drop off and pick up areas for buses and cars, drainage and parking areas.

The Peele Leisure Centre and Rainbow Nursery buildings which form part of the site will remain in their current form, and will not be affected by the redesign or construction work.

“The application proposes the replacement of the main complex of educational buildings within the site and which have a gross internal/external floor area of 6292m2/6626m2,” the planning officer’s report stated.

“The new school building would provide space for up to 750 pupils within a three-storey block containing all required teaching, administration, social and ancillary accommodation.

“There are 64 car parking spaces, including disabled parking bays and electric vehicle charging facilities, proposed in the front north western corner of the site with the bus parking area and a separate parent drop off/pick up point to the south of this, directly adjacent to the main in-out access drive.

“A new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) is proposed on part of the footprint of the existing school buildings.

“The majority of the existing school playing fields to the east of the site would remain (including the marked pitches, cricket field and running track), with an additional grassed area and a habitat garden created between the new school building and the southern access drive/leisure centre.”

Additional areas of landscaping will see the majority of existing trees retained and areas of new planting to compensate for any existing trees that are removed.

The design and access statement including with the original application stated: “The majority of the existing school buildings on the campus are to be replaced by the new proposals.

“This existing accommodation is no longer fit for purpose and is to be demolished following the construction and occupation of the new school building.”

Lincolnshire County Council’s Historic Environment Officer recommended a phased archaeological investigation be carried out on the site.

A letter of representation and one objection were received from the public.

The objection states the planned entrance path is planned to be moved directly in front of their property, ‘causing congestion with cars dropping students off and the forming of groups in mornings and afternoons’.

It also asks whether there are plans to provide lighting on the MUGA at a later date, which ‘would affect wildlife and also provide light pollution to the residential propertyies on Little London’.

The letter of representation requests the planning authority considers the loss or retention of mature trees on site.

UALS was one of the 61 schools to be selected to be part of the Government’s flagship School Rebuilding Programme, which was announced in 2022.