Planning for schools development

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) is seeking views on its proposal that planning consent for new schools be removed. London Councils has responded and believes this will have an adverse impact on the education of the capital’s children.

CLG is proposing that new schools should be classified as ‘permitted development’ which would take away the need to apply for planning permission altogether.  The proposal would mean that local authorities would have to allow any new school to be created in any location - regardless of its impacts on noise, traffic or the suitability of the building for educational use.

As a result, boroughs would no longer be able to plan effectively for the number of places needed in a particular area.  This could lead to a surplus of school places in some areas and a shortage in others.  The changes could also mean that some schools end up with a lack of facilities to meet the curriculum and would remove the rights of residents to have a say or object to new schools being created.

The full consultation response is available above.