Primary school for Kennett Garden Village approved

Cambridgeshire County Council has approved plans for the new 210 place primary school, which will also include a 26 place nursery.

The new school is proposed to support the wider garden village development of up to 500 homes.

Outline permission was granted by East Cambridgeshire District Council for the extension to the exciting Kennett village, with detailed plans for the first 328 homes being signed off by the authority earlier this year.

The new school once built will be run by the Staploe Education Trust and will replace the existing primary school in the village.

The planning application was submitted by the county council as the local education authority.

At a meeting of the county council’s planning committee on May 17, a representative of Kier Construction, said the primary school was an important part of the outline consent for the wider site.

They explained that the design of the school site offered space for the building to be extended if needed at a later date, which they said helped to “future proof” the development.

CGI of new primary school planned for Kennett Garden Village. This image is taken from planning documents. (Image: Cambridgeshire County Council)

They added that air source heat pumps would be installed, as well as solar panels to provide energy for the school.

The representative said: “We believe the primary school will be a high quality educational development at the heart of the garden village, which will benefit the pupils attending the school and the community.”

Councillors said they were overall happy with the plans and unanimously voted to approve the application, after a few issues were discussed.

Councillor Anna Bradnam raised questions about the school site being within a consultation area for a new sewage works, and said she did not want to approve the plans for the school and see a sewage plant built next door in a few years time.

The chair of the committee Councillor Henry Batchelor highlighted that the location of the school was not in question as it had already been agreed in the outline consent. He said a school would be built there, but what that school would look like was there for the councillors to debate.

Officers also explained that if the school plans were approved it would need to be taken into account in any future plans for a sewage works in the area, and said the county council would expect to be consulted on this.

Councillor Neil Gough said he believed the target to get the number of children travelling to school by car to 58 per cent – down from 91 per cent at the existing primary school – was “not particularly ambitious”.

He also asked for some reassurance it would be safe at drop off and pick up time with some children arriving on foot and others in cars.

Officers said there were plans that would ensure safe walking routes to the school for children.