The government has finally decided that the new High School they planned to build in Rosehill Park, will not now go ahead.  In a letter to the Greenshaw Trust, the minister says that the project will be formally cancelled.  The need for secondary school places in Sutton has reduced and the government believes the demand can be met by existing schools in Sutton.

Although the Sutton Local Plan had accepted that a school could be viable on this site, once the government’s planning application had been received it became clear that the scheme would be unworkable.  Your local councillors objected to the proposal which included classrooms without windows and it was turned down by the Planning Committee.  The government overturned the Council’s decision but ministers then decided, in the light of reducing primary school numbers (and no doubt their own budget difficulties) that they would review the proposal.  So this decision is not a surprise.

The minister has confirmed that a small school for children with special needs will go ahead on the park, as the need for this remains.  The plan was for a small school for 56 pupils with autism.  This would take a much smaller space on the ex-all weather pitch, and the traffic and road safety implications would be much less.  It is likely that this will need a new planning application.

We will keep you updated on any future planning application

Ruth, Marlene and Steve