School expansion will take playing field space

PLANNING chiefs at Warrington are being urged to approve extensions at a primary school – despite objections from Sport England over the loss of playing field space.
The plan involves St Philip’s CE Primary School, at Westbrook which would be extended with six additional classrooms allowing an increase of pupils from the existing 413 to a maximum of 630.
There would also be an increase in staff numbers from 74 to 112.
The proposals involve five extensions to the school, including a large extension to the west of the building comprising three classrooms, a resource and hall, with studio.
An extension from the north east corner of the building would provide classrooms, resources room and toilets and an extension to the east would create a kitchen extension. In-filling a small external courtyard would create a practical room and a small extension into an internal courtyard would provide toilets.
The scheme includes a relocated play area to the west of the main extension, which would be provided on the existing playing pitch.
Council chiefs say replacement playing pitch space can be provided as part of a separate scheme for a replacement school for Barrow Hall Primary.
But Sport England say there is no legal agreement, condition or contract to guarantee the replacement playing pitch so they cannot rely on this. As a result, they are maintaining an objection.
Council planners say there will still be a significant amount of playing field at St Philip’s and they believe the need for additional school places outweighs the loss of playing field. The likely provision of extra playing fields as part of the Barrow Hall development mitigates the loss, even though it cannot be controlled through the current planning application.
They are recommending the scheme be approved, although the Sport England objection will mean the plan has to be referred to the Secretary of State for final approval.