Council launches consultation for new homes site
SET TO RUN UNTIL LATE JULY
EAST Riding Council has called for the public’s views on what to do with the site of a closing Welton special needs school already earmarked for 25 homes.
East Riding Council’s consultation on the St Anne’s School, Residence and Sixth Form College is set to run until Friday, July 22, including with an in-person event in Welton.
A council spokesperson said a consultation was needed before it can apply to change the site, in St Helen’s Drive, from its current use as a school to something else.
But it comes after councillors approved plans from the authority to earmark the land for 25 new homes last August.
The council’s planning application stated they intended for the land to be sold to a private housing development once St Anne’s pupils move to its new Hessle site in September.
The existing St Anne’s building is set to be torn down once pupils are relocated to the new £20.3m site, which is currently being built.
The school has room for 158 pupils and the wider development includes accommodation for them, parents and carers and is set to open in September.
The council stated it was running its consultation on the 3.78ha Welton site to review its future need.
The land currently features playing fields and areas, hardstanding and parking, as well as school buildings.
The council stated alternative uses were now being considered and their consultation includes the event at Welton Memorial Hall, Cowgate, from 10.30am to 7pm.
But council documents for the site, approved as part of its outline planning application last year, already floated a housing estate with 19 market and six affordable homes.
They added homes would be built on the part of the site where school buildings are currently while the rest would be left as open space.
Documents stated: “It is intended that the school would be relocated to a new building on an alternative site and the existing building demolished.
“The site would then potentially be sold to a private housing developer.
“Documents went on to state it would be a positive redevelopment of an existing brownfield site.
East Riding Council’s Planning Committee heard last year the number of proposed homes had been cut from 50 amid concerns local roads would be unable to cope with the traffic.
Objectors to the plans included Welton Parish Council, which claimed the council had not sought locals’ views about how best to use the land.
It also noted concerns about traffic, flooding and development in the open countryside.
Hull City Council also objected over the development being in the open countryside because it could potentially have a negative effect on the local property market.
Around 30 objections were received in total on those grounds, as well as claiming no new homes were needed and that demolishing the school was a waste of money.
But councillors on the committee heard it would not set a precedent because the school site itself was classes as brownfield.
Plans were given outline approving meaning councillors granted permission to build the homes in principle but details on design, layout and landscaping are yet to be decided.