‘Bold’ land plan would swap school for homes
A Chichester school could move to a new, state-of-theart building at a different site in the city if developers can be persuaded to agree to a ‘bold’ land swap proposal.
The idea was put forward by Chichester City Council, which believes it would benefit everyone – Bishop Luffa school, the community and developers Miller Homes and Vistry Group.
The proposal would see the site of the existing school in Westgate exchanged for a new site within phase two of the Whitehouse Farm development.
Councillor Richard
Plowman said the main benefit was providing the ‘brand new, energy efficient school that Bishop Luffa deserves’. It would also mean the current Centurion Way route could be kept and that land would be freed up for the
Southern Access Route and the Chichester to Emsworth cycle route, he said.
Austen Hindman, headmaster at Bishop Luffa, has given his support to the ‘bold plan’.
A ‘bold’ land swap proposal could see a Chichester school move to a new, state-of-theart building in a new location.
The idea would see the Bishop Luffa school site in Westgateexchangedforanew site within the Whitehouse Farm development.
The first phase of construction on the 750home development is currently underway, while the second phase will be included in the Chichester Neighbourhood Plan.
Chichester City Council, which is currently developing the plan, believes the second phase could incorporate the new school building, while developers could build around 300 homes on the old school site.
The land swap idea was put forward by councillor Julian Joy, an awarding-winning architect who has worked on similar projects.
Councillor Richard Plowman, the mayor of Chichester, said everyone would benefit from the proposal. “The main benefit would be, of course, a brand new state of the art, energy efficient school that Bishop Luffa, rated excellent by Ofsted, deserves,” he said.
The existing school building was ‘rambling and poorlybuilt’, hesaid, whilethe new school could incorporate sports facilities, lecture halls and drama facilities which were ‘much-needed’ for the local community.
Developing the school site for housing would make better use of the land, according to Mr Plowman, considering its proximity to the city for walking and cycling. It would also mean that the current Centurion Way route could be kept and land would be freed upfor the Southern Access Route and the Chichester to Emsworth cycle route, he said.
Austen Hindman, headmaster at Bishop Luffa, supported the proposal – describing it as a ‘bold plan’ which would ‘transform the experience of students’ and provide opportunities for the community. The school’s older buildings were no longer fit for purpose and costly to maintain, he said, adding: “A new school building funded by the land swap would be a costeffective way of investing in our children’s future.”
A spokesperson on behalf of Miller Homes and Vistry Group said representatives had spoken to both the city council and district council about the proposal and said: “Talks are ongoing to explore the proposal’s viability in relation to the constraints of the location and Chichester City Council’s own planning policies.”