New school plan approved despite 'chaos' fears

Plans for a new Derbyshire primary school have been approved despite fears it will cause "chaos" and "gridlock".

The 420-place school will be built in Marley Way, where construction is currently under way on a 2,200-home estate on the former Drakelow power station site, on the outskirts of Burton.

The scheme also includes a 26-place nursery, a 45-space staff car park and outdoor classroom space.

Fears were raised over the lack of a designated pupil drop-off zone and the impact it could have on the area, but the application was approved by South Derbyshire District Council.

The developer, One Creative Environments, said the school would be built for the start of the 2025 academic year.

There would be a hardcourt playground with markings for two football pitches, along with two grass football pitches and a garden area.

The planning committee was told of the lack of a drop-off zone for parents and carers during the school runs, as concerns were raised it would cause issues on nearby roads.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councillors pushed for this to be included with the new school.

They added drop-off zones were proving "unfeasible" to add to existing schools, leaving surrounding streets frequently blocked during drop-off and pick-up.

But planning officials at the council said providing a drop-off zone would require the loss of a sports pitch.

Councillor Grahame Andrew said: “I have a new school in my ward on the Mease (in Hilton) and we had the same situation where there is no drop-off zone and the school is on a 40mph spine road. It is a safety concern and we have problems. I would like to see an improvement, not a repeat."

A statement from planning officers on the council said: "Whilst officers understand the new school will likely be an attractive choice, the majority of attendees to the school will be drawn from the immediately surrounding development and travel to the site by sustainable methods has been designed into the site and location of the school."

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.