Proposals for a new primary school and nursery have been dubbed as “uninspiring” and “lacking imagination” ahead of a possible decision to approve the scheme.
Planners will next week debate the merits of the proposed three-form entry primary school proposed for land at Cobdens, on the edge of Cranbrook, with the scheme being recommended for approval by officers.
The plans, which have already been given outline approval as part of a large 1,400-home development scheme, also include a nursery provision as well as a community room.
But while an objection by the Environment Agency around the height of the finished floor level in line with flooding regulations seems to have been overcome, local politicians have criticised the design of the planned school.
East Devon District Council’s planning committee will consider the application next week (Tuesday 1 September). The plans have been submitted by Devon County Council, which is the education authority.
Cranbrook Town Council recommended refusal back in February, and in spite of updates to the proposed school building, it has not altered its view.
“Whilst I do support the principle of delivering a new school in this location, the opportunity to create an educational facility which is exciting, imaginative and inspiring has, in my view, been missed,” said Councillor Kim Bloxham (Independent, Cranbrook).
She added that the proposed layout “lacks imagination”, and raised queries about its functionality, claiming it “fails to properly meet modern educational needs”.
“Whilst the learning clusters for primary and nursery are properly separated, the teaching accommodation could be better grouped around shared breakout spaces, with (particularly in the case of nursery children) direct and secure access to outdoor learning zones,” she said.
“The long corridor design in the primary area does not optimise circulation and does not provide for effective staff supervision.”
Fellow member Councillor Sam Hawkins (Independent, Cranbrook) echoed similar concerns, adding in fears about how families would access the school safely.
“In my view, the overall site layout does not adequately prioritise safe, legible and efficient movement,” he said.
“The relationship between pedestrian routes and vehicular circulation is insufficiently clear, raising concerns around safety, particularly at peak drop-off and pick-up times.
“The design of the main entrance appears constrained and fails to provide sufficient frontage space to support visitor management, safeguarding and the congregation of parents and pupils.
“The small forecourt area provided appears inadequate for this purpose and gives the impression that the primary gathering space is intended to be accommodated outside the school boundary, potentially placing reliance on land or management arrangements beyond the applicant’s control.”
Fears have also been raised that no land has been safeguarded for any future expansion of the school as the population of Cranbrook and the surrounding area inevitably grows.
“Provision for future expansion should be safeguarded within the site boundary to accommodate potential increases in school capacity,” Councillor Kevin Blakey (Independent, Cranbrook) said.
“Whilst the school is to be built in two phases, this does not allow for further increases in capacity as the town and surrounding settlements grow.”
Cllr Blakey agreed that the proposed external design of the building “lacks imagination”.
“The flat roof will have a shorter life than a tiled/pitched roof, which I think would be a better option,” he said.
“There is an opportunity here to deliver an attractive and imaginative new school at this location, but the proposed design will not deliver that.”
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