Rejection of plan for SEN school being appealed

Rainshore House off Over Town Lane, Rochdale

The rejection of a planning application for a new school for children with special educational needs on Rochdale’s greenbelt is being appealed.

The proposal would have seen Rainshore House in Norden transformed into a school for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The Aurora Group wanted to convert the building to provide eight classrooms; therapy rooms; a 27-space car park; an allotment; and a playground.

In November 2024, the planning committee was told the school would provide specialist curriculum areas for science, cookery and ICT for 55 pupils and 25-30 staff.

Despite promises of much-needed SEN school places and eco-friendly building practices, locals claimed the new school would cause traffic chaos on Over Town Lane. The road was described as ‘a narrow single track lane with poor visibility and no turning points’.

Objectors from Norden felt the road is too narrow to support minibus drop offs and the increased traffic the new school could create.
 

Read more: Plan to create new special needs school thrown outPublished: 07 November 2024

Councillor Peter Winkler, a member of the planning committee said: “I don’t think anyone is against SEN schools, but it’s just in the wrong place.”

An agent speaking on behalf of the Aurora Group highlighted a Freedom of Information request (FOI) that 449 Rochdale SEN pupils are educated outside the borough – costing the local authority £2m per year. He believed the additional school places this would create qualified the plan for the special circumstances to build on greenbelt land.

The planning committee disagreed, refusing the plan because it didn’t meet the ‘very special circumstances’ required to build on greenbelt land. That decision has been appealed by the Aurora Group.

The Planning Inspectorate will now look into the case and make a final decision.

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter