Planning application approved for Staverton's Emmaus School

Emmaus School in Staverton, on the northern edge of Trowbridge, has been granted permission for extensions that involve the construction of a two-storey building on the current playground.

More than 30 objections, many of which related to the adjacent Nestlings pre-school, the application was debated by a planning committee.

Ms Hope Brett, whose children attend Emmaus School, was in attendance at the meeting and spoke in support of the extension.

READ MORE: Emmaus School could be extended despite objections

3D drawing of the proposed extension. (Image: RE Planning) Ms Hope Brett, whose children attend Emmaus School, was in attendance at the meeting and spoke in support of the extension.

She said she had never seen “so many educational lessons and activities taking place in one space” before visiting the site and that the quality of the facilities was “dramatically below” those of any other school she had experienced.

She added: “I urge you on behalf of the families seeking to educate their children at Emmaus School to approve the application and let them learn in facilities that let them get on with learning without having to constantly fight their environment.”

SEE ALSO: Revised extension for Staverton House refused by Wiltshire Council

Also speaking in support of the plans was Mr James Burgess, who said the school was in “desperate need” of additional space.

He noted: “Currently, we have 62 pupils at the school, in some cases with three year groups being taught in one space, some in a very worn out mobile cabin, and all with tired and worn out facilities.”

He added: “We are not a prestigious selective private school and a number of our pupils have come to us because they have not been able to cope in a larger, mainstream setting.”

However, the manager of Nestlings pre-school, Belinda Bates, voiced her objection to the work.

She said: “It creates overshadowing to the bungalows across the road and to the entire northern aspect windows at Nestlings preschool.”

Heather Derrick, who also works at the nursery, raised concerns over parking.

She added: “This large shapeless block will be visually intrusive, out of keeping, and block significant amounts of light from well-established homes and the preschool.”

The committee agreed that the main issues raised by the nursery had since been resolved by the applicant, including a boundary dispute which required Emmaus School to adjust its design.

With the application approved by councillors, the school now has permission to move forwards with its plans.

The existing mobile classroom to the north of the school is set to be demolished to make space for a new play area.

The application also proposes a single storey extension to the western rear of the school building.