Plans for special needs school approved

The school will be built beside the existing Discovery Special Academy in Acklam

Councillors have approved plans for a new secondary school for pupils with severe learning difficulties.

It will be built next to the existing Discovery Special Academy primary school in Acklam, Middlesbrough.

There had been objections over parking issues and additional traffic along the road, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

At a meeting on Thursday, the planning committee voted to accept proposals for school, serving 70 pupils aged 11-16, on Sandy Flatts Lane.

One resident told the meeting that the parking situation at times was “just crazy” and and there were “potholes everywhere”.

“The road needs widening,” he told the committee.

The resident also claimed when consent was granted for the primary school in 2021, a section 106 agreement was made committing to replanting of trees lost on the site.

“This has never been done,” he said.

However, head of planning, Paul Clarke said the agreement attached to the previous application related to highways mitigation measures.

Headteacher Jennifer Duncan told the meeting there were dedicated staff in high-visibility jackets at the gates with vehicles directed into the school car park.

She said they also monitored vehicles parking on the highway.

The committee was told Sandy Flatts Lane meets the appropriate guidance in terms of width, while potholes were a highways maintenance issue and “outside of the planning process”.