PLANS to change the use of a residential school are progressing further, having been recommended to go ahead by the council.

Tadley Court School, a residential school for children with autism, applied for a change of use application from residential school (Class C2) to education use (Class F1).

This would mean that should the application be approved, the school, which has historically operated as a residential school, would instead operate as a day school.

The reason for the application is "the balance of residential to day students has shifted. The majority of students attending the school are now day students."

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The planning statement, put together by Alder King, reads: "The school has historically operated as a residential school, but over recent years, and reflecting changing Government policy, the balance of residential to day students has shifted.

"The majority of students attending the school are now day students, with very few students now residing on the site. The current day students attending the school, more often than not, now reside with the applicant off-site in smaller residential family care homes.

"Given the current and longstanding use of the site, the proposed change of use would not be materially different to the existing use of the site in practical terms."

A recent report from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's case officer, Beatrice Malama, states: "It is recommended that the application be approved subject to the conditions listed."

This means that the application is likely to receive the green light, as long as the development is carried out in accordance with the prior approved plans, within three years from the date that permission is granted and if the Emergency Plan is reviewed and amended as necessary and at least annually.