Evans Jones were appointed by Gloucestershire County Council to secure Planning Permission for a new build 900 pupil secondary school on the outskirts of Cheltenham.
- Service:
- Planning Appraisals / Master Planning
Challenges :
Several obstacles needed to be addressed for this planning application. Including; ecological concerns, highway considerations, biodiversity enhancement, opposition from the local community, alignment with the local plan allocation, and proximity to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The project timeline coincided with the evolution of policies, particularly in relation to climate change and sustainability.
The planning consultants at Evans Jones managed public consultations and negotiations with various stakeholders, ultimately leading to the submission and processing of the planning application, which was unanimously supported by the planning committee.
The Results:
A Judicial Review was dismissed allowing the school to proceed, delivering the first carbon neutral school for the County with accompanying biodiversity and ecological enhancements.
This high-quality design has resulted in the establishment of a state school that sets a new standard, typically associated with private institutions. The school opened for years 7 and 8 in 2022 and is expected to reach full capacity by September 2025.
In recognition of the exceptional work carried out by the planning team on this project, the practice was honored with the Education Project of the Year award in 2023.