This is a decision that we could not be more pleased about. Following an Inquiry earlier this year the Secretary of State has granted permission for the new school for Beech Lodge.
Beech Lodge School is a charity based, non-maintained school for pupils with particular special educational needs. The school provides day-school education and a therapeutic environment for pupils with special educational needs who are deemed unsuited for mainstream school.
The application will provide a new school for 96 pupils allowing Beech Lodge to extend the amazing work that it already does working out of temporary premises.
We argued successfully that the considerable educational need that will be met by the new school represented Very Special Circumstances to justify the development in the Greenbelt.
RBWM originally determined to grant permission in October 2014 but the decision was called in by the Secretary of State.
Our barrister, Sasha White QC, summed up the case perfectly in his closing when he said:
‘Beech Lodge School has done something extraordinary – it has provided a sanctuary of hope and love for these children. They are the future and they are intrinsically more
vulnerable to the world and its vagaries. In this case the children who need BLS are highly vulnerable and love and hope are fundamental prerequisites for them
to recover and have lives that are fruitful and have a degree of contentment.’
We are delighted for the team at Beech Lodge who carry out this remarkable work, led by Daniela Shanly and Head Teacher Lucy Barnes.
The team acting for Beech Lodge School was:
Counsel: Sasha White QC
Architect: Philip Tilbury HJ Stribbling
Landscape: Alastair Maquire Aspect Landscape Planning
Education: Stephen Clyne EFM Limited
Planning: Kevin Scott & Ros Gall KSC Ltd