Sandwell Council has officially submitted plans for a cutting-edge £20 million primary school in Oldbury, set to transform the educational landscape for local children. The new Causeway Green Primary School will be constructed on the site of the former Brandhall golf course, marking a key development in the wider Brandhall Village project, which also includes 190 new homes and a sprawling 67-acre public park.
The proposed school will accommodate 420 pupils and is designed to be a ‘net zero’ carbon facility. It will replace the ageing Causeway Green Primary on Penncricket Lane, a building that has suffered from severe structural decline and frequent flooding. The council’s planning documents describe the existing school as “structurally failing” and “in extremely poor condition,” necessitating urgent replacement.
Choosing the former golf course site was deemed the “optimum solution” in the application. The land already benefits from outline planning consent for educational use, and the previous golf course has long been defunct, making the location ideal for the new school.
Designed to meet net zero carbon standards, the new facility will incorporate advanced insulation, high-performance windows, and efficient ventilation systems aimed at minimizing energy consumption. This approach will significantly reduce operational costs by curbing heating and cooling demands, providing a sustainable and cost-effective learning environment.
The council emphasized that the new building will “represent a significant improvement and a substantial upgrade in overall quality,” fostering a more aspirational and regenerated educational space. This project received backing under the previous Labour administration earlier this year, with former Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Infrastructure Peter Hughes highlighting the transformation from one of the borough’s poorest school buildings into a “space-age” facility.
Currently, Causeway Green Primary is the oldest and most deteriorated school in Sandwell’s maintained estate. At approximately 70 years old, it suffers from corroded steel frames and failing structural integrity, making renovation impractical and economically unviable.
Relocating to the corner of Grafton Road and Ferndale Road on the former golf course not only avoids the flooding issues of the current site but also avoids the £5 million extra cost that would be required to rebuild on the existing location. Although the Passivhaus-standard design raises upfront construction costs by around £1 million compared to traditional builds, the council expects long-term savings through reduced energy bills.
The school’s green features epitomize modern sustainable design, focusing on lowering the building’s carbon footprint while fostering a high-quality educational environment. Originally, plans called for 550 homes on the old golf course, but public opposition led to a scaled-back development of 190 homes, preserving more open space while accommodating community needs.
This application represents a significant step forward in addressing educational infrastructure challenges in Oldbury, balancing community concerns, sustainability, and cost-efficiency to deliver a lasting benefit to the area.