News / KNowle West
Plans for new secondary school and community centre in Knowle West
The team behind a Knowle West charity say plans for a new, purpose-built building will secure its long-term future in the community.
Proposals for the redevelopment of land currently occupied by The Park on Daventry Road include the creation of a new community centre, as well as a 900-place secondary school, which will be funded by the Department for Education and run by multi-academy trust Oasis Community Learning.
The plans form part of a £25m investment in the area and a public consultation launches on Wednesday, when a drop-in session will be held at the charity’s existing HQ.
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Proposals for The Park site in Knowle West. Taken from The Park Redevelopment website
The Park works to raise aspirations and offer opportunities, activities and services for local people. It occupies the 15-acre site on Daventry Road and is home to some 40 organisations, charities and social enterprises.
In March, Bristol City Council gave the go-ahead for the land at Daventry Road to be transferred to the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), which will commit £4.45m for the new community building. The remaining space will be used to build the “much-needed” school.
Speaking about the proposed development, Sam Carrier, PR manager for The Park, said: “It’s very good news for us because it means we will be able to build a sustainable building, which will secure our future as a charity.
“It will be amazing for the community, as we will get a new school and we get to keep The Park, which is a very important part of the community. We will have a better facility and a guaranteed future.”
Sam confirmed a detailed planning application will be submitted following the consultation and it is hoped that work on the new community centre will begin early next year, to be completed by around May 2021.
On completion, the council will take over the freehold of the new centre and lease it back to The Park for the same peppercorn rent of £1 currently paid by the charity.
The school is currently in the pre-planning stage of development. Once built, local pupils will be able to attend a secondary school in Knowle West for the first time since Merrywood School closed in 2000.
The Park team say they are working closely with the Department for Education, Oasis Community Learning and Bristol City Council in a bid to keep the community updated on developments.
People are invited to drop in to The Park on Wednesday, June 12 anytime between 4pm and 8pm to speak to members of the team. An exhibition of proposals will on display at The Park throughout the summer and will also be available online.
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