‘Huge changes’ to Dorking SEND school planned for greenbelt made

“Huge changes” to planning conditions attached to a SEND school in Mole Valley have been made. The Betchworth Vale Academy in Dorking was given the green light in March and campaigners greeted the decision as giving the children who would go there “a chance of an education like everybody else”.

Before the local elections however, the application was back in front of the same Mole Valley District Council planning committee as councillors looked to agree on a number of conditions that would help residents living next to the school in Punchbowl Lane. These included restrictions on the school’s use as a private-hire venue, a buffer zone around the south western edge of the site, and double yellow lines on the lane.

As part of the original planning permission, the applicants Bowmer and Kirkland together with the Department for Education, sought to build a SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) school that included community use outside of school hours. The committee was keen to make these conditions “watertight” as its use as a community asset was the basis of the very special circumstances behind its approval on Metropolitan greenbelt.

READ MORE: Parents overjoyed as new Dorking SEND school approved

The end result was described as a “huge change from the original conditions” and “far more acceptable” by Councillor Margaret Cooksey, although issues around highways and the impact on pedestrians and residents remained a major concern, she said. The 36 conditions and 18 informatives were approved unanimously by the committee with officers also agreeing to meet with Surrey Highways about making the designs safer for people in Punchbowl Lane – there are no pavements and councillors would like to make the school’s exit one way.

The committee also backed the formation of a community liaison group to create a known route for communications for residents. The days and times the site could be used as a community asset would also needed to be formalised.

Officers at the April 26 meeting said new conditions “would prevent that area being used by the school in an intensive way that could be harmful to their amenities”. Cllr Cooksey (Lib Dem, Dorking South) said: “Such huge changes from the original conditions, these are far more acceptable though I have to say that the residents still do have real concerns about highways issues and about ecological issues, and they’re still coming forward. I think we’ve picked up many of the issues.” She added: “It’s such an improvement, I cant believe we’ve managed it.”