Atherstone school seeking green light to retain temporary classrooms

An Atherstone secondary school is seeking the go-ahead to continue using a portable building as classrooms for another 12 months.

The Queen Elizabeth Academy has applied to North Warwickshire Borough Council for planning permission to retain the Portakabin - housing two classrooms, storage spaces and toilets - for another 52 weeks from the current expiry date at the end of this month (Sept).

A document supporting the application states: "The building was installed to provide additional classroom space whilst a traditional building was constructed, but Covid-19 severely hampered the progress of the project.

"With a preferred contractor now in place, the academy aim[s] to complete the traditional build by September 2021 thereby eradicating the need for the temporary build.

"This application seeks an extension of the temporary planning permission for one year to coincide with the completion of the building.

"The Portakabin building was chosen as a result of the flexible solution it provides.

"It was installed quickly enabling The Queen Elizabeth Academy to begin using the specifically fitted out building much more quickly than a traditional build, and it can easily be removed with little impact on the site."