Planning go-ahead for Redland school buildings

Planning go-ahead for new school buildings

An extension to the former Redland Police Station was agreed by councillors today (Monday 6 August), as part of the conversion of the building to new classrooms to be used by St John’s Primary School.

The buildings on Lower Redland Road will be used for eight classes for pupils from reception to year two. By September 2014 it is planned that 225 children will be on the site, boosting the capacity of St John’s Primary School, based on Worrall Road to 525 pupils across both locations.

Changes to the buildings to make them suitable for school use agreed today include the demolition of part of the rear of the building for a new modern extension, landscaping, external lighting, covered cycle storage and some road and pavement improvements.

Construction work is planned to start immediately as part of a £5.3m scheme to create a self-contained eight classroom infant annex for St John’s Primary School.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Cllr Clare Campion-Smith said: "Getting the planning permission today is a crucial step forward in delivering much-needed extra school places for Redland and Cotham. This success shows that we can move quickly to deliver places when suitable accommodation becomes available in the right location.

"Work continues to find new potential school sites in the city as we know that demand for primary school places is increasing."

Thirty extra children will start at St John’s in September on the Worrall Road site until the new buildings are ready.

Ends

Notes for Editors

1.Redland Police Station was purchased by Bristol City Council in March 2012. The new annex helps to create an extra 210 places for St John’s Primary School.

2. Councillors approved both the planning and conservation area consent applications today but the conservation area consent will be referred to the National Planning Casework Unit for approval as the building is council owned.

3.Work will be carried out for the Local Education Partnership by Skanska.

4. The expansion of St John’s Primary School is part of Bristol’s School Organisation Strategy that predicts an additional 30 reception classes are needed (and mostly sustained) up to 2015, to meet population growth.