Plans to Expand Beaconside School are expected to be Approved by Councillors Next Week

Plans to expand Beaconside School with new extensions and alterations are expected to take a step forward with plans recommended to be approved by Westmorland & Furness Council’s Eden local area planning committee next week.

Councillors are due to meet at Voreda House on Wednesday morning (11^th June) to consider the planning application for Beaconside C of E Primary School that will see additional class room space created along with internal alterations to allow for the increase in the number of children the school can accommodate.

The application is being considered by councillors because the application is from the council itself ass the local education authority and the recommendation to grant planning permission is contrary to objections of Penrith town council.

Concerns from the town council and other organisation and local residents have been raised regarding the number of available staff car parking spaces and the increase in traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times.

The application proposes two new single storey classroom extensions. The first is for two new Key Stage 1 (KS1) classrooms that will be located at the west edge of the school next to the staff car parking area.

The second, extension will provide space for Key Stage 2 (KS2), with three classrooms along with staff space, toilets and plant room. This extension will be located in the southern section of the school where the existing library bus is positioned that will be relocated elsewhere within the school grounds.

In a response from the town council it states that it recognises the importance of educational development and that Beaconside School has been chosen as the school where growth will occur.

It adds: “It also believes that the application fails to adequately address several significant concerns related to the transport statement and travel plan relating to topography of the town, highway safety, public transport access and compliance with the relevant national and local planning policies.

Concerns around the plans and the risk to children and staff in the school along with the local community around the school posed by potential of asbestos in the existing building have also been raised but the planning officer said "It is not a material planning consideration".  94 primary schools in the Westmorland and Furness are known to contain Asbestos.

The planning application for Beaconside School contains no surveys or reports to check for the presence risk and mitigation of Asbestos during the construction works Evolve Penrith said in its response to the planning consultation raising the concerns with the council.

Members of the Eden Planning committee will meet at 10am on Wednesday the 11 June at Voreda House to consider the application and the officers recommendation to approve the plans.