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Bramcote College Redevelopment
First published on 13th July 2018 in issue 178 of the Federation Newsletter. Newsletters are sent to subscribers and ALL parents/carers of students at The White Hills Park Federation Trust, for whom we hold a valid email address. They also published on the Alderman White School, The Bramcote School and Bramcote College websites for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of issue. Archive copies of The Federation Newsletter are available on request.
As you know, in recent years, White Hills Park Trust have been working on ambitious plans to rebuild Bramcote College as an all-through 11-18 school, to be funded by the sale of former playing fields on Coventry Lane. I know that parents will be keen to know how the project is progressing. Although it has been frustrating that we have had little visible progress in recent months, I would like to reassure you that we have been working to secure the necessary permissions and prepare the planning application.
There have been a few significant steps in recent weeks, all bringing our new school closer to reality. Firstly, an independent valuation of the land commissioned by the County Council has confirmed that there is little doubt that its sale will raise sufficient funds for the rebuilding – although we have always been working on that assumption, the formal valuation provides security for all parties. Secondly, Broxtowe Borough Council have completed their Local Plan, setting out their future planning policy. Within the plan, the housing allocation for the Coventry Lane site has been increased to 500 dwellings, and the plan lists as a ‘Key Development Requirement’ which ‘must be met’ for this area, to:
‘Provide a replacement school at a location south of the ridgeline [on the current Bramcote College campus]…school redevelopment is to be delivered in conjunction with or prior to housing development… and no houses are to be occupied until the school is substantially complete.’
We have also begun to have significant interest from developers, and a number have now visited the site, confirming the great potential there is in the area.
Finally, and importantly, we have now been able to work more closely with Nottinghamshire County Council, who are proactively engaging with us to deliver our high-quality, fit for purpose new school as quickly as possible. A statement from David Hughes, Nottinghamshire Director of Growth and Investment, has signalled their commitment:
‘Nottinghamshire County Council are fully committed to working with the White Hills Park Trust to secure the redevelopment of a new school at Bramcote. The County will partner with the Trust to use its land assets to unlock the required investment in line with the emerging Broxtowe District Local Plan.’
I would like to thank parents for your patience with us – I know this has been a long road, but the new school year will see rapid progress towards making our new school a reality.
