Southampton primary school relocation plans face local opposition
Proposal for new site deemed misaligned with city needs
Plans to build a permanent home for a Southampton primary school have been labelled “disproportionate and misaligned” by another school in the city.
Proposals for Hope Community School to move to a new site on the former East Street Shopping Centre land have been submitted on behalf of the Department for Education.
The scheme would see Southampton’s first mainstream free school expand to a two-form entry, with an eventual capacity for 420 pupils.
While the application has received 100 comments in support, leaders at St Mary’s Church of England Primary School are among 15 representations opposed to the development.
The school’s governing body said: “In summary, this proposal does not respond to a demonstrable need for additional places, is misaligned with falling pupil numbers, duplicates provision in an area with existing capacity and undermines confidence in the local authority’s approach to maintaining and prioritising its existing estate.”
The objecting governing body described the proposal as “disproportionate and misaligned with need”.
A separate objection from St Mary’s chair of governors Amanda Humby said: “At a time when existing maintained schools are facing real and pressing challenges with their buildings and resources, it is difficult to justify significant capital investment in a new ‘shiny’ school that is not driven by need.
“This raises important questions about fairness, prioritisation and responsible stewardship of public funds.”
As a free school, Hope Community School receives capital funding directly from the government, where as maintained schools like St Mary’s rely on the council for building condition and maintenance work.
Hope Community School has operated from temporary accommodation on the Central Hall site in St Mary Street for nine years.
The Department for Education agreed to buy the vacant East Street Shopping Centre land on the corner of Lime Street and Evans Street from Southampton City Council several years ago.
The proposal includes a three-storey teaching block and a 1.5-storey hall space, with a kitchen area.
A statement prepared by planning agent Vail Williams said: “This new school facility for Hope Community School is urgently needed as a permanent home for a school that has been open in temporary accommodation since 2017.”