Questions raised after Amble school plans scaled back
Concerns have been raised that the design of Amble’s new school has been simplified and scaled back, despite an increase in the budget. New plans which were submitted after initial groundwork began in March, show the new building will be smaller and have fewer outdoor features than originally agreed.
A groundbreaking event for the new school building was held on 18 March
Amble Development Trust have asked Northumberland County Council (NCC) why new plans were submitted as minor amendments to approved plans, two weeks after NCC’s own groundbreaking event on 18 March. The plans show the building footprint reduced by 530sqm. At the same time, the budget for the school has increased by £11m, to £47m.
Some external facilities and features have been simplified or removed from the approved plans. These include growing areas, an amphitheatre, an environmental study area, congregating spaces and landscaping. Exterior decorative brickwork has been reduced. In addition, a trim trail has been excluded from the contractor’s brief, with a suggestion that NCC will carry out the works after the school is complete.
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- Approved plans (Nov 2024)
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- Amended plans (April 2025)
Matthew Connolly, Strategic Project Manager of Amble Development Trust said the calculated reduction in size amounted to the loss of four classrooms. He also questioned why these new plans had been submitted at such a late stage in the project and after contractors had begun working on the site:
“These changes are fundamental in nature. The last time that any public consultation on the plans took place was in January 2023. Since then, many changes have been made, all cuts to the scope, extent and function of the building. These are highly strategic matters. In a town that has houses being built all around the school, to make it substantially smaller with reduced facilities reflects badly on all those making these decisions. Decisions that the end users of the school, and indeed the community have had no input into, and without challenge and oversight, nor knowledge of.”
The Development Trust also raised questions about the size of the new school sports hall.
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- Amended plans: Classrooms moved
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- These outside areas have been removed
In reply NCC accepted the reduction in the size of the school but denied there was any major change.
Rob Murfin, Head of Planning told The Ambler:
“There have indeed been some slight reductions in the square footprint of the building in the final design stage of the project. It is the case however this has not resulted in the loss of four classrooms. In order to reduce the total gross internal floor area of the building, four out of the five humanities classrooms from the wings of the building have been relocated to the south elevation under the croft area. The only “teaching” space that has been removed is the T-Level catering area.”
He added “The sports hall has not been reduced and remains a 4-court sports hall sized, this is larger than what is recommended by the DFE for the number of students who attend the school. There has been a slight reduction in the number of brick projections as a way of rationalising, however they still remain on the main elevation of the building.”
Anna Williams
Disgusted. It’s just like taking candy from a baby,all the original proposal is radically changed. To add insult to injury, it’s costing more to build ! U couldn’t make this up if u tried. Think this can’t be legal, and needs an investigation ASAP.
Clearly, public consultations are treated with contempt by the council. NCC are not delivering what they promised the people of Amble.