'Special circumstances' may justify green belt extension

Details of a proposed extension and remodelling of Padiham county primary school will be considered by the development sub-committee on Wednesday.

Extensions on open land would allow the junior and infants sections to be separate and prevent children from having to cross busy Burnley Road.

The project to extend the early 1970s building includes the building of two new classrooms, a hall and ancillary accommodation covering 471 square metres.

A temporary cabin used as a hall/dining room will be removed and the scheme also involves the widening of the access road to allow two-way traffic with a four space extension to the car park.

Members of the sub committee are being asked to approve the scheme subject to the Secretary of State not calling in the application.

Members will be told that the separation of the site into two distinct schools, junior and infants, will improve the safety of children and remove the necessity for pupils to cross Burnley Road.

The scheme is for the extension of the building housing the reception and Year 1 infant children to take in Year 2 children from the older building across Burnley Road and so Accommodating all infant children on one site. The development will allow the demolition of two temporary units, one on each site.

Planning officers will report that an important issue is whether the development is appropriate in terms of their green belt policy.

Burnley Council has expressed concerns that it would compromise the openness of the green belt near to Gawthorpe.

Officers will report that the older buildings of the school are on a congested site 200 metres away from the proposed extension and across busy Burnley Road.

The only room for school expansion is on green belt land.

Special circumstances existed in the case of the split-site school to justify it being considered as an exception to green belt policies.