Plans to construct a 1,000-place secondary school in Birchills, Walsall, are scheduled for a decision by councillors later this week. The significant application, submitted by the Department for Education (DfE), involves the clearance of 13.7 acres of woodland within Reedswood Park.
The proposal includes a three-storey school building, provision for 130 parking spaces, sports facilities, and an access route via Reedswood Lane. This development has met with strong resistance from local residents, particularly regarding the chosen access point and the proposed loss of woodland.
The Local Highways Authority has raised objections, citing unresolved “fundamental matters.” In response, the DfE has proposed mitigation measures including restricting traffic to residents only during school pick-up and drop-off times, implementing single yellow line parking restrictions, enhancing pedestrian facilities at the junction of Reedswood Lane with Old Birchills and Bentley Lane, and encouraging the use of dedicated school buses. Despite these measures, the highway authority remains opposed to the plans.
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Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust has also objected, reporting that the statutory requirement for a 10% biodiversity net gain cannot be met. The trust emphasised that the open space is highly valued by the community and expressed concerns over the significant ecological impact the loss would entail.
Walsall Council, acting as the local education authority, highlighted a projected shortage of secondary school places in the area. Birchills falls within school planning area three, where forecasts predict an ongoing need for additional secondary school capacity until 2031.
West Midlands Fire Service expressed concerns that the proposal does not seem to meet criteria for adequate access and facilities for emergency crews. Conversely, West Midlands Police raised no objections. Although their initial response included inaccuracies concerning the proposal and referenced crime data for the Brownhills ward, these errors were later corrected and the planning officer duly informed.
Public consultation saw over 200 comments opposed to the scheme, with only three in support and two neutral. Key concerns included transport issues (150 comments), parking difficulties (112 comments), and ecological fears (108 comments).
Planning officers concluded that while the loss of open space carries “moderate adverse weight,” this is outweighed by the benefits of providing a new secondary school. Therefore, they have recommended approval of the development.
The planning committee will convene at 5.30pm on Thursday, 3 September, to deliberate and decide on the application.