Plans to expand a special school in Crewe to accommodate an extra 60 pupils have been recommended for approval - despite some objections.

Springfield School caters for 200 children and young people, between the ages of four and 19 - who have severe learning difficulties and complex needs.

Cheshire East has applied to its southern planning committee for permission to extend the existing school sports pavilion at the site off Crewe Green Road.

Springfield School caters for 200 children and young people, between the ages of four and 19 (Ian Mumford).

This would accommodate more children, extend and remodel the existing kitchen facilities and provide additional off-road parking.

In a report to next week's meeting of the southern planning committee, the council's planning officer says: "The area to be developed for the extension is an unused area of planting to the west and the area to be developed for the revised parking area forms part of the landscaping strip to the south."

The site forms part of an area of protected open space controlled under a planning policy which aims to protect and enhance existing areas of open space and sport/recreation facilities.

The officer adds: "The area to be developed to the rear is mainly the tarmac and grassed area within a small part of the wider playing field.

There would be accomodation for 60 more children, an extension and remodelling of the existing kitchen facilities and additional off-road parking (Gareth Woods).

"The area to be developed to the side is currently an unused section of land which is partly overgrown and contains some trees and boundary planting.

"As such most of this land is not capable of serving the open space/playing field function."

He says the proposal is therefore considered to meet the exceptions under planning policy as it affects 'only land incapable of forming part of a playing pitch'.

He adds where playing field is to be lost, this will be compensated by a new tarmac area on land currently not in use and so 'would not result in any reduction in the existing level of open space/playing fields on the site'.

More than 80 letters of objection have been received from residents (Google).

Crewe Town Council has objected to the scheme saying it is 'strongly opposed' to the removal of trees, which reduces the amenity of pupils and residents.

More than 80 letters of objection have been received from residents. Their concerns include parking and congestion issues, the loss of trees, harm to wildlife and flooding concerns.

Two letters have been sent to Cheshire East supporting the scheme.

The planning officer says the site is within the settlement zone line, where there is a presumption in favour of sustainable development.

The application will be considered at the next meeting of the southern planning committee - Crewe Municipal Buildings on Wednesday - November 30 (Ryan Parker).

The benefits of the proposal would be the provision of further special needs education.

The application will be considered at the next meeting of the southern planning committee - taking place at 10am on Wednesday (November 30) at Crewe Municipal Buildings.

READ MORE: Crewe councillors 'alarmed' by plans to move Queens Park maintenance staff to Middlewich.

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