School Rebuilding Programme (SRP) – Somerlea Park Junior School

Somerlea Park Junior School was chosen as part of the Government’s 10-year school rebuilding programme to upgrade school buildings across England that were considered to be in the worst condition. Of more than 22,000 schools and sixth form colleges, Somerlea Park Junior School was prioritised by the Department for Education to be one of the first 50 rebuilding projects to progress under this programme. Dobson-Grey served as the planning consultant and public consultation coordinator, as well as having responsibility for stakeholder engagement.

Dobson-Grey served as the planning consultant and public consultation coordinator, along with stakeholder engagement. Challenges;

  • Loss of Listed Building: The project involved the demolition of the original, locally listed school building. This loss was justified as part of the wider planning balance, without the need to go to Appeal.
  • Loss of TPO tree: he LPA attached a blanket TPO to the project site prior to the submission of the planning application. Dobson-Grey engaged with the Tree Officer to agree how how the loss of a significant tree could be justified (with appropriate mitigation) to enable the new school building to be approved without revision of the original scale or design concept.
  • Discharge of Conditions: Detailed engagement with the planning officer in respect of the drafting of planning conditions.  Close collaboration with the client/contractor and regular liaison with the Council to ensure relevant conditions were discharged and delay to the commencement of the project was avoided. 
  • Stakeholder Management: The project involved a diverse range of stakeholders, including the school’s staff, students, parents, contractors, and the local community. Effective communication and collaboration were essential to managing expectations and ensuring a successful outcome.

This case study demonstrates Dobson -Grey’s deep understanding of sensitive land disposals, our ability to orchestrate complex off-market sales, and our commitment to achieving optimal outcomes for our clients.

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