Old college campus could become new Coventry school site amid 'huge demand'

Coventry college's old Henley campus could be turned into a secondary school in a bid to fill a shortage of places for pupils. Education officers say the site is "ideal" for the project and a new school is needed to meet the city's future demand for places.

It comes after a rise in primary school numbers in the city and extra places being added at other schools for the last five years. The council's need for the land was one of the reasons officials refused plans to redevelop it with 115 houses last week, 22 November.

A planning report said the council's education team had requested the site, which was re-marketed this year after no interest from providers in 2021. Education officals said there is an "oustanding local need" for places and it would be practical to repurpose the college buildings, the officer said.

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They stressed the council has to add secondary school spaces as there are more primary pupils than previously predicted, due to more schoolchildren moving to the city than leaving, according to the report. Officers added the council must make sure there are enough school places in the city by law.

The report revealed most secondaries in the city have expanded their places in the last five years. But, officials explained, the council cannot force any of the high schools to take on more pupils permanently as they are all academies, the document revealed.

"For this reason, the Council have decided that opening a new secondary school is the only way to meet future demands[,]" they told council planning officers. The council is able to acquire land where there is a "basic need," under a plan agreed this year, education officers noted.

They also claimed Henley college is the "ideal site" for the new school, according to the report. They said it is where people are moving to, spaces are already being added in other parts of the city, and there are no other sites in the northeast of the city that are suitable.

"By securing the Henley College site for a new secondary school, the city council can effectively manage existing and future pupil growth, reduce transportation impacts, and support the educational needs of the community[,]" they said in supporting information to officers. A viability report was also carried out by the department.

It found the college could be turned into a 1,250 pupil, seven form entry school though it would start with fewer students while buildings are refurbished. In their assessment, council planning officers agreed there has been a "shift within the population" and "change in circumstances" compared to a previous housing bid in 2021.

They gave extra weight to the council's need to provide school places and the lack of any other places in the area that would meet its requirements for a school. Losing the education buildings would outweigh the benefits of new houses for the city, officers concluded.

The final planning decision states redeveloping the college as homes will not be supported by policies due to the council's educational need for the site. Other reasons the council turned down the plans include a lack of private outdoor space for some residents of the planned homes, not enough biodiversity and landscaping information and no way of securing developer contributions.

More details on the decision can be viewed on the council's planning portal via reference: PL/2024/0000865/FULM.

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