Council approves plans for 'activity-based' school

An office building in Cottam is set to be converted into the school

A specialist primary school which offers "activity-based" and "outdoor" learning is set to open in Lancashire.

Preston City Council has granted the application, which would see the Cottam Lane Business Centre converted into the facility.

The application, lodged by HJM Properties, said: “The programme of education differs to that of a state school in that activity-based learning will be encouraged as well as off-site experiences of outdoor learning.”

Concerns were raised about the proposed school's impact on traffic in the area but HJM Properties said children would "arrive and depart at different times of the day to minimise traffic".

The state-funded school would have a maximum of 25 students and 10 staff members on site at any one time, the application added.

In a report outlining the reasons for their approval of the proposal, council planning officers said highways officials had not objected to the development but had requested a traffic management plan.

Objectors also raised concerns about "the lack of information" submitted to the council.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has made additional efforts to approach HJM Properties and the current occupier of the Cottam Lane premises.