Chatten Free School in Witham given go ahead

The Chatten Free School, which is planned for Rickstones Road, Witham, has been given the green light by Essex County Council and the Department for Education now hopes construction can begin before the end of August.

The Department for Education’s latest forecast for the project shows the school could be built by autumn 2021 but it still needs planning permission for finer design details before work can begin.

Bosses say the Chatten Free School will cater for up to 75 pupils diagnosed with complex autism.

Plans for the new facility were approved by the county council despite concerns being raised about the loss of a sports field.

Sport England had objected to the proposals because the school will be built on a site which was previously used by New Rickstones Academy for PE lessons and sports.

But County Hall rejected the concerns and insisted the need for a new special educational needs and disabilities school in Essex was more important than the loss of land.

A report outlining why the school was given the go-ahead states: “This development would provide a specialised educational facility which on the basis of evidence submitted appears to be urgently needed to meet basic need provision now and in the future.

“It is accepted that there are some concerns about the loss of playing field associated with New Rickstones Academy as a result of this development, however, the need argument in this instance is considered particularly strong.

“Overall, it is not considered that the development would give rise to significant impacts, with it considered that the new school has been both designed in a way to best meet the needs of pupils whilst respecting existing local character.”

The new school will be split into 15 classes and is expected to employ more than 100 members of staff to ensure each pupil can be taught on a one-to-one basis.

The school will be open to children aged between four and 19 from across Essex who have severe autism.