Decision due on school expansion plan to meet growing pupil numbers

A Leicestershire school is set for an expansion to help meet growing pupil numbers. Hastings High School, in Burbage, near Hinckley, could be getting a new sports hall, classrooms, dining room and bigger car park in a bid to increase capacity at the site.

The school currently has space for 800 pupils, but has 845 on its register, Leicestershire County Council said when it submitted a planning application for the development. With the new housing planned for the area, the council predicts the school will have a deficit of more than 100 places by January 2026. The plan will increase its capacity by 200 pupils to 1,000.

The new sports hall is proposed to be built next to the school’s existing running track. It would have four badminton-sized courts, changing facilities, toilets and showers, space for storing equipment as well as a PE classroom and dance studio. The new building would also house a music and drama teaching space, a general-use classroom, two design technology classrooms and two science classrooms.

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An office and reception area would be included and the existing sports hall in the main school building would be turned into a larger dining room. New toilet blocks would be created in the main building and the school kitchen would be expanded, plans show. Staff numbers would increase from 100 to 120, the council said.

The proposal for the school will be debated by members of the authority’s planning committee this week. Officers have recommended the scheme be approved, despite concerns from its neighbours and the local parish council.

Some 33 objections from 15 residents have been sent in to the authority over the plans. Neighbours are concerned the new building, which they have branded “excessive” in height and width, will impact views and light to their homes and gardens.

They also fear there will be increased noise disturbance from the sports hall and dance studio during both school hours and the weekends and evenings when it would be open to community use. Residents have said they are worried this will impact on their ability to work from home and relax in their gardens.

Objectors feel the hall should be built at the southern side of the school grounds, close to St Catherine’s close, to minimise impact. However, officers have said the current proposal would not have detrimental impacts on neighbours in terms of noise and overshadowing, and tree planting along the boundary between the sports hall and nearby homes would help protect their privacy. They added the building has been moved back from the border of the site to help minimise any impacts.

The expansion has also caused concerns there will be an increase in traffic, resulting in more people parking in nearby streets during pick-up and drop-off times. Planning officers said assessments at the site have concluded there are good walking and cycling routes in the area, as well as public bus stops.

The council’s highways teams also ruled the overall impact of the development on the roads are “acceptable”. Some 30 additional parking spaces are proposed for the site, as well as space for 50 bicycles. This was again considered suitable by officers.