Plans for new autism school are withdrawn

PLANS to turn a former nursing home into a school for children with autism in a city suburb have been withdrawn before they can be decided by Derby City Council planners.

Autism East Midlands (AEM) wanted to convert Manor House in Manor Road, Littleover, into a day school for up to 20 pupils and around 20 staff. But an email has been sent to the council’s planning department by the applicant’s agent formally withdrawing the application, which was first submitted last September.

During the consultation period, six letters of objection had been sent to the council by members of the public. And the council’s highways officer had also objected on the grounds that there was inadequate parking provision within the development, raising concerns that this could lead to parking on the street and possibly verges.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust also made recommendations that the presence of bat roosts for at least six bats in an area earmarked for demolition means that a Natural England European Protected Species licence will be required to allow the development to proceed without committing an offence.

AEM’s principal school is Sutherland House School in Nottingham, which takes some Derby children on referral from the city council.

The original planning application for a change of use said that there was a “clear community need” for an increase in the provision of specialist schooling for autistic children from in and around Derby and added “this growing need is the main driver of this proposal”.

The Derby Telegraph approached the project’s agent for a comment.