Plans for a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities school in Morpeth submitted to council
A new independent Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school will open in Morpeth town centre if a planning application gets the green light from Northumberland County Council.
The change of use bid for the former One to One NHS Medical Centre on Gas House Lane is seeking to provide a school for 40 young people.
The proposed operator would be Impact, Childcare & Education (ICE). It has been operating for 18 years providing therapeutic residential childcare, supported living for adults with learning disabilities and outreach services for children and young people.
Plans to convert the former centre, which closed in 2019 following the relocation of medical facilities to other NHS premises, into a school follow on from a bid to convert it into 10 supported living apartments being turned down by the council last year.
The proposed site layout maintains the vehicular and pedestrian entrances off both Gas House Lane and Wellwood Gardens. No changes are proposed to the current site access arrangements.
Parking areas off Gas House Lane and Wellwood Gardens would be retained for the use of staff and visitors.
The design and access statement, one of the documents submitted with the application, includes the following: “ICE has identified that there is demand locally and this building and location would make an ideal additional premises.
“The existing single storey pitched and flat roof medical centre would be refurbished internally and converted into classroom and ancillary spaces. No additional extensions are proposed.
“In terms of the internal layout, it is proposed to convert the internal layout to accommodate a small school provision for 40 pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
“Start and end times of the school day are staggered and children are dropped off at school at staggered starts to allow handover to staff. The majority of the children would be dropped off by mini-bus or taxi to the main Gas House Lane entrance.
“The outdoor space would include opportunities for physical activity, recreation and social areas.
“The existing external building fabric roof and walls would be repaired and made good as necessary, maintaining the character of the existing building. All existing windows and door openings would be retained.”