Special school plans recommended for approval

Brookside Hall was built in the late 1800s as a private home

Plans for a 118-pupil school in Cheshire for children with special educational needs have been recommended for approval.

Independent specialist education provider Witherslack Group wants to convert Brookside Hall in Arclid, on the outskirts of Sandbach, into a school for children aged from five to 19.

The building, which was built in the late 1800s as a home, has most recently been material solutions company Sibelco UK's regional head office.

Cheshire East Council's planning officer said the application site was near a quarry, but stated there was no active mining immediately next to Brookside Hall.

The application will be considered by the strategic planning board at its next meeting, from 10:00 GMT on Wednesday at Crewe Municipal Buildings.

The proposal involves changing the site's use alongside supporting works, which include new fencing and gates, two new multi-use games areas and solar panels.

The officer’s report to the meeting said the school would provide education for about 118 pupils and the play spaces would be available throughout the year.

The on-site 133 car parking spaces will be kept.

The report stated the application site was close to the quarry, Bathgate Silica Sand, "therefore consideration needs to be given regarding the impact of the proposal on the existing quarry".

It added: "Contact has been made with a representative of Bathgate Silica Sand who confirm that there is no active mining and working of industrial sand in the area immediately adjacent to Brookside Hall.”

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.