Design approved for new £8 million Melksham primary school

The plans were brought to a planning committee after two objections from residents of the Pathfinder Way development, one of which expressed fears the new school would overlook their hot tub.

First submitted in 2016, this development in the Bowerhill area of Melksham set aside land for a new primary school.

READ MORE: Objections to design for new Melksham primary school

A Wiltshire Council officer reported it will cost approximately £8.4 million to deliver the school. (Image: Wiltshire Council) However, commenting on the plans, Rebecca Peace noted that the location of the school had changed.   

She wrote: “Myself and other neighbours have made preparations for hot tubs in our garden.

“Preparations that have already cost money. Having children overlook our garden whilst we are swanning round in the ‘privacy’ of our own land is far from wrong and a two-storey building obstruct the nice view completely goes against what I agreed to when buying this property.”

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During the western area planning committee meeting, the case officer acknowledged that the location of the school had been moved due to a flooding risk.

However, she noted that the updated plans were publicly available when Ms Peace purchased her home.

The case officer concluded: “We can only ensure that her privacy is protected as much as we can.”

According to the plans, this will be achieved by obscure-glazed windows near her home.  

The planning committee requested that attention be paid to details such as the connectivity and walking routes at the site.

Cllr Mike Sankey said: “We are the applicant, so to speak, and we have got a responsibility to provide that safe route from the neighbouring 200-house development and further afield in Berryfields.

“I just want to raise the point that I think we as a council should make sure that safe route, in agreement with the parish council, is in place and available to use when the school is open.”

Cllr Nick Holder also raised concerns about traffic surrounding the school and suggested that a no-right-turn be enforced at the exit of the facility, to which the committee agreed.

He concluded: “This will be the first school that Wiltshire Council will build that meets all of our climate ambitions.

“It will be a fantastic template for all future schools that we build.”