Plan for new nursery building at Overton school approved

The planning application, submitted by Overton Church of England Primary School in Court Drove, outlines plans for a single-storey modular building, which will include two nursery classrooms, a teacher training room, break-out space, ancillary facilities, a play area, new access and a car park.

However, concerns were raised by the community on a number of issues including the potential impact on access and traffic in the area, with 100 residents posting their objections on the council's planning portal.

Overton Parish Council, in particular, voiced its objections, claiming the development was not in the best interests of the local community.

A computer-generated image of the proposed new building at Overton Church of England School (Image: Planning documents)

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The parish council specifically highlighted concerns about the safety of parents and children crossing the vehicle access area to reach the main school gate.

The proposal was initially brought before the council's development control committee in June but was deferred to allow for updates to the traffic management plan.

A revised plan was submitted in July, addressing the concerns with the introduction of a new pedestrian gate to the south of the proposed access and a new footpath outside the car park leading into the school.

Despite the amendments, the parish council maintained its opposition, arguing that parents approaching from the south would still need to cross the vehicle access area.

However, at the committee meeting held on Wednesday, September 11, the updated plans were ultimately approved.

Cllr Michael Howard Sorrell, who moved the proposal to approve the plans, dismissed the parish council's concerns, saying that the updated traffic management plan had mitigated the problem.

"The parish council's reaction is nonsense," he said.

“The problem has been mitigated,” he said.

“They have an option to go into the school grounds without going past that vehicle access on foot. The problem doesn't exist anymore, it has been solved.

“We have assessed all this before [in June]. This was the last concern and it has been resolved.”

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However, Cllr Colin Phillimore supported the parish council's stance.

"Overton Parish Council would have a great understanding of the area. I'm supportive of their objection that it doesn't solve the problem," he said.

In the end, nine councillors voted in favour of the proposal, with approval granted subject to conditions set by council officers.