Major extension to Castell Alun High School in Hope receives green light

Plans to create extra space at a secondary school where some youngsters are taught in temporary classrooms have been given the green light. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Three mobile units have been in place at Castell Alun High School in Hope for a number of years as it struggled to find room to meet pupil numbers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, they are now due to be demolished to make way for a new three-storey extension. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council submitted a planning application to improve facilities for more than 1,200 pupils who currently attend the school at the start of the year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The proposals have now been approved and will see the existing design and technology block knock down to create additional parking for staff. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Manchester-based planning consultants Turley, who are working on the local authority’s behalf, said it would deliver a “significant benefit” for the community. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a planning statement, they said: “The proposed development would replace a dated design and technology building and three temporary buildings which contain poor quality teaching space and provide a poor quality learning environment for pupils. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The proposed teaching block would contain modern, purpose built teaching facilities, such as design, art and performance space, staff facilities and ancillary storage. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It would therefore be of significant benefit to the local community, providing pupils with better quality learning space to meet their needs, and providing teachers with a better facilities for teaching. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The proposed development would also provide additional car parking spaces to allow for the more efficient parking of cars and circulation on the wider school site. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“No increase in pupil or staff numbers would result from the proposed development.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The architects added music, art and other classes would also be hosted in the new extension. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The application was backed by planning officers yesterday using delegated powers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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