A woodland independent school in Nottinghamshire has been allowed to create new facilities in its countryside home.
Salterford House School, in Salterford Lane, Calverton asked Gedling Borough Council permission to reuse existing residential accommodation near the school.
It asked to turn the housing into a new classroom to be used for its pupils – who are fee-paying and are aged two to 11 years old.
In papers lodged to the council, the school also said part of the building would become a library and a dining hall for pupils.
The papers, lodged to the authority in April, said: “Part of Salterford House School is currently a residential property.
“We want to convert this part to commercial to change of use to be used as a classroom, a library [and a] dining hall.”
The school added the existing house was most recently used for residential purposes and features three rooms.
And it confirmed the school will continue to include 15 car parking spaces as part of the plans, with this to remain unchanged alongside pupil numbers.
Now the council has granted planning permission to the school’s plans in a delegated decision by a senior council planning officer.
A report published by the planning department reveals initial permission was granted for the school in 1990.
This included converting a house and land to school premises in the woodland and an extension to form a new, self-contained residential building.
A planning condition was placed on this residential building 33 years ago requiring it to be used by someone employed full-time at the school.
But now it says the school wants to turn the property into school facilities “in conjunction with the remainder of the building, which is currently used as a school”.
The authority says no objections were received during a consultation and its biggest debating point in approving the plans was the impact on the greenbelt.
However, it says there is “no greater impact” on the Greenbelt as the plans will involve internal changes to the property.
The report, written by council planning officer Nigel Bryan, said: “The building is of permanent and substantial construction.
“Given that the proposal relates solely to internal changes to the building, there will be no greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than [what] currently exists.
“I am therefore satisfied given the proposal relates to the re-use of a permanent and substantial building, with no additions or external alteration to the building.”
He added there is also likely to be “no undue impact” on neighbouring properties or the wider area, as well as no highways safety concerns.
And, because the plans propose no increase in pupil numbers, there would be “no greater use of the existing access”.
Mr Bryan granted planning consent for the plans.
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