Gateway Academy expansion plans approved (From Thurrock Gazette)

Gateway Academy expansion plans approved

10:02am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News

THURROCK Council’s planning committee has approved plans for Gateway Academy to expand, giving extra teaching space for the newly-opened Gateway Primary Free School But there was some criticism over the “box design” of the new building.

The first phase will see a two-storey building constructed next to the current, circular shaped school building.

It will be for the primary school – funding from the Department for Education has already been secured. A second phase, adding a third storey, will begin once additional funding has been secured from the Government.

Separate from the current school structure, the ground floor will consist of a central “multi-functional learning” centre, with reception and Year 1 classrooms one side and Year 2 classrooms, plus offices and a school kitchen on the other.

The first floor will comprise of a similar layout. There will be Year 3 and 4 classrooms to one side and Year 4 and 5 on the other. The second floor will provide extra teaching space for the secondary school.

The new structure will be be able to house 930 pupils, 630 of which will be of primary school age.

The application will need to be looked at by the Environment Agency – because of the area’s high flood risk – before plans are forwarded to the Government for a final seal of approval.

Despite the plans being agreed unanimously, Cllr Phil Anderson questioned the design of the “box” building, asking: “Couldn’t the architects have been a bit more imaginative?”

Council officers said this was the best Gateway could do with the time and financial constraints placed upon it.