Plans submitted for renovations to school

GOVERNORS at a Cheadle Primary school have submitted plans for internal alterations to the premises.

A planning application has been submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council for the proposed alterations at St Giles Roman Catholic Primary School in Charles Street.

A design and access statement submitted on behalf of the applicants by Wood Goldstraw & Yorath, said: “The current use of the application site is a primary school, the internal works limited to the first floor and a small area of the ground floor.

“The proposed alterations on the ground floor include the partial removal of two walls to the head teachers office. The first floor alterations are more extensive and include the removal of walls, relocation of screens and general refurbishment throughout.

“To the ground floor, work would generally focus on the head teachers office and adjacent store. To the first floor the proposals would include alterations to two classrooms, group room, office, tea bar, storage and WC facilities.

“Access to and around the building will remain generally unaffected, with the only alteration to any access routes being at first floor level with the creation of two small corridor areas. Access routes towards the school grounds will not be affected by proposed plans. The proposed plan has no effect on the external appearance of the school buildings.

“Much of St. Giles’ Primary School displays a certain degree of historical value which is mainly associative in nature, with the original school buildings having been designed by the distinguished Gothic Revivalist architect A.W.N. Pugin.

“The impact of the proposed works is nonexistent externally and on the ground and first floors, the internal arrangements in the works areas have already been subject to modification in the past and therefore, the proposal would do little to damage the historical value of the original building, while making it more suitable for continued use by building users and hence the wider viability of the building in its continued use as a primary school.”

A decision is expected by planners within the next eight weeks.