A NEW Waseley Hills High School has been approved by Bromsgrove councillors after an assessment deemed the existing buildings were in ‘poor condition’ and ‘’urgent action’ was required.
The planning committee approved the application at the meeting on September 4.
There will be a phased demolition of existing school buildings and two new ones built in their place, along with a new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and landscaping.
It is expected demolition of some of the existing structures will begin later this year with the development set to be completed by autumn 2026.
The application report said the poor state of the existing buildings meant ongoing maintenance presented a financial burden.
The new buildings will be low-carbon and climate-resilient.
The application site is within a Green Belt area, but the application report detailed an exception, allowing for building replacements provided the new one was for the same use and not materially larger than the original.
The new school will not look to house more than the current 741 pupils and 84 staff to prevent any ‘undue’ additional traffic to and from the site.
A new pedestrian access will be provided off Gunner Lane.
The school will aim to offer increased access to the community during evenings, weekends and holidays.
A public meeting and presentation held at the Rubery school in March saw 18 people submit written responses following a presentation.
Everyone who responded supported the principle of the development, while many backed the proposed design of the building.
The school will not close as part of the development and the four-phased demolition and construction have been designed to ensure the safety of staff, pupils and visitors.
Measures will be implemented to ensure ‘minimal disruption’ to daily school life.
