PLANS have been drawn up to create a new “high-quality” building at a primary school.

The proposals for Longton Lane Primary School in Rainhill were sent in to St Helens Council’s planning department on March 8.

What do the plans include?

Plans include for the construction of a two-storey building, demolition of existing structures, a sheltered seating area, new parking facilities and netball courts.

The Star reported in 2021 when the school was chosen as one of the first 50 across the country to be renovated thanks to government funding.

A planning statement, prepared in support of a planning application by Tilbury Douglas Construction Ltd, on behalf of the Department for Education, says it is proposed to “construct a new school building within the Longton Lane Primary School site to replace the existing buildings”.

The new building “will be constructed and handed over to the school for use prior to the demolition of the existing buildings taking place”.

It is added the proposed development will provide a “new, fit-for-purpose, school building of a high-quality design”, 32 car parking bays, including EV charging bays and disabled parking bays.

There will also be two netball courts and a covered outdoor seating area provided.

It adds “the new school building will be located to the north of the existing buildings” and “will be between one-two storeys in height and will contain classrooms, staff accommodation, a main hall, a kitchen, and associated storage”.

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The classrooms on the ground floor will be dedicated to infants with the upper floor to be utilised by the older pupils.

It adds: “The building’s plant will be located on the roof” and the “remaining roof area will be covered in photovoltaic (PV) panels, enabling the school to generate its own electricity, reducing energy costs and allowing the site to achieve a net zero carbon status.”

St Helens Star: The existing buildingThe existing building (Image: Ellis Williams (St Helens Council Planning Portal))

Neighbours consulted

The document in the plans also says that consultation flyers with details of the proposals were posted to a total of 446 residents in the vicinity and that people were invited to attend a public consultation event at the school in February.

It was said there were “no objections raised to the principle of development”.

It was pointed out “concerns were raised regarding the placement of proposed trees, parking/pickup and drop-off times, cycling access, and disturbance during the construction phase and that “these matters have been taken on board by the applicant and, where possible, these have been addressed through revisions to the scheme”.

Public consultation on submitted plans

Standard consultation of the planning application is now open to the public to make representations. This lasts until Monday, April 3, with a determination deadline set for June 7.