Sutton new schools update

The Department for Education (DfE) is going to appeal against the decision of Sutton Council to refuse to grant planning permission for the proposed new schools at Rosehill Recreation Ground in Sutton.

Wates, working on behalf of the DfE, had submitted a planning application to build a new secondary school and small special school on the disused All Weather Pitch and part of the Sports Village at Rosehill Recreation Ground. In September, Sutton Council turned down the planning application.

The proposed schools will provide much-needed secondary school places for local families and specialist provision for children on the autistic spectrum. The schools will be operated by the Greenshaw Learning Trust.

Wates is expected to submit the planning appeal to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate and formally notify Sutton Council this week. The appeal will then be considered by an inquiry in front of a Government Planning Inspector.

The inquiry will take evidence from Wates and Sutton Council and from anyone that wishes to make representations. People who sent their views on the planning application to Sutton Council will be notified and copies of their representations will be sent to the Planning Inspectorate.

The inquiry will be held locally and will be open to the public – arrangements for the inquiry will be made by Sutton Council. It is expected that the inquiry will take place during February and that a decision will be made by the Government Planning Inspector by the middle of April 2020.

If the appeal is successful this would enable the new schools at Rosehill Recreation Ground to be built in time to open in September 2022; and would also allow the proposed new secondary school to open in temporary accommodation in central Sutton in September 2021.

You can find out more about the proposed new schools here.

You can find out more about the planning appeal process here.