City arts centre in Portsmouth could be transformed into specialist school
Plans have been submitted to convert the Omega Arts Centre
A city arts centre could be transformed into a specialist school under new plans, as Portsmouth City Council moves to tackle rising demand for SEND places.
Plans have been submitted to convert and extend the Omega Arts Centre in Somers Town into a 76-place special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) facility.
The application, submitted by Portsmouth City Council, seeks permission to refurbish the existing buildings and construct extensions to create a facility for young people with severe autism and learning difficulties up to the age of 19.
The facility would form part of the Mary Rose Academy, run by the Solent Academies Trust.
The proposals include refurbishment of the current buildings, additional teaching space, and a reconfigured site layout, alongside new landscaping and boundary treatments.
The council says the scheme responds to increasing demand for SEND support, adding that it would be "failing in its statutory duty to provide sufficient school places."
The school would provide 76 places in total, including 50 "with severe autism and severe learning difficulties" and 26 with "very severe autism and very severe learning difficulties."
New facilities would include classrooms, group rooms, sensory spaces, and specialist teaching areas, as well as a workshop, food technology room, dining hall and kitchen.
The application also proposes a separate teaching block intended for pupils requiring more specialist support, along with changes to the surrounding land, including expansion into adjacent areas and the relocation of a nearby play space.
Documents submitted with the application state that the existing building will undergo repair and upgrade works, including roof replacement, new windows and updated mechanical and electrical systems.
The design statement also sets out how the layout has been informed by the needs of future pupils, stating: “The needs of this cohort of young people are very complex, usually understood as being on the autistic spectrum, which can often bring other needs that cannot be accommodated in what might be understood as a conventional special needs school.”
It adds that the design responds to potential “flight risks” where pupils attempt to leave the school due to sensory stimulation or regulation.
“This means that the location of teaching spaces and any associated external areas has been carefully considered to reduce this flight risk.”
The scheme follows a decision by the council to invest £7.5m as part of its budget-setting process in February.
Like many areas across the country, Portsmouth has seen a significant rise in demand for specialist school places.
For the 2026/27 financial year, the council allocated £44m for pupils with high needs, up from £37m the previous year.
Due to cost pressures linked with special schools, inclusion centres, alternative provision, out-of-city placements and post-16 support, the budget faced an £8.5m deficit, with £4m met from reserves.