ET Planning has successfully secured planning permission for a specialist education facility on Station Road, Theale on behalf of Amegreen. The permission, granted by West Berkshire Council, permits a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school, providing dedicated education provision with an on-site residential flat for staff or pupils.
The application responds to a growing local and national need for specialist education provision. The approach reflects the Government’s SEND strategy to expand high-quality alternative education places for pupils with complex needs. The new facilities include parking and secure outdoor areas, enhancing accessibility and safety for pupils and staff.
Key Outcomes
The planning approval comes as a result of careful preparation and engagement with local planning policy, addressing issues such as traffic impact, design and heritage, educational need and community benefit. ET Planning worked closely with the applicant and West Berkshire planning officers to ensure that the proposal complied with national and local policies, optimising the scheme’s benefits for the community while sensitively adapting a rural building for educational use.
Haywards Farm School has since opened and is operating as a specialist education provider for pupils aged approximately 6–14. It was established to support children unable to thrive in mainstream settings due to conditions such as autism and other complex needs, helping fulfil a significant gap in local SEND education provision.
Fig 1: Location on new SEND school on the edge of Theale (Image courtesy of Motion)