A FORMAL and full application for the new Orsett Heath Academy has now been submitted to Thurrock Council and there will be a significant impact on the playing fields at Blackshots.

And longer term, the development of the school site which will house 1,200 pupils, could even precipitate the closure and replacement of Blackshots leisure centre according to the applicants' long term plans for the site.

The new school, to be operated by the South West Essex Community Education Trust which currently runs Williams Edwards School, will be built by Caledonian Modular Ltd, an off-site-modular contractor who are the Department for Education's preferred bidder for the design and construction of the new permanent building on the site.

The application site principally comprises land to the north and south of Stanford Road in Grays, located directly south of Thurrock Rugby Football Club where youth pitches are currently located.

Those pitches will be replaced by new pitches on Blackshots playing fields, adjacent to the tower blocks. Concern has been expressed that children's play areas may be lost in the switch.

A temporary school, which opened last year to year seven pupils, was created on land adjacent to Thurrock Rugby Club. If and when the new school is built, that building will be gifted to the rugby club.

The application comprises land to the north and south of Stanford Road. As well as the existing sports pitches, the school will spread over to a parcel of land on the other side of Stanford Road adjacent to Treetops School.

The new school will be accessed by a new turning created on Stanford Road.

The application says the school building can be split into three main elements:

• Teaching accommodation- a three-storey building, running north to south-west. This section of the building will comprise all classrooms, learning resource areas, school library, staff offices, school kitchen, dining room, roof terrace and main school entrance.
• Sports hall and main school hall- a two-storey building, located adjacent to the north-west corner of the main teaching accommodation. This section of the building will comprise the sports hall, main school hall, drama studio and PE stores.
• Sports facilities- a one-storey building, located adjacent to the north-eastern corner of the main teaching accommodation. This section of the building will comprise the activity studio, fitness studio, changing rooms, PE stores and community entrance.

The applicants add that the development seeks to significantly enhance the quality of sports facilities available to students and local community groups through the provision of the following:

• Artificial Grass Pitch for rugby and football use;
• A senior grass rugby pitch;
• Six youth rugby pitches;
• Four youth football pitches
• Sports Hall;
• Activity studio;
• Fitness studio;
• Changing facilities / storage;
• Drama studio;
• Multi-use games area.

They add: "The proposed layout/sizes of the football pitches have been designed to reflect the needs of Orsett Heath Academy and Treetops School.

"Discussions have also taken place with Grays Athletic Football Club who have expressed their interest and support for the proposed football pitch layouts."

Supporters of Grays Athletic and club officials had initially hoped that the school development application would include a new community sports stadium, which Grays were hoping to use as the site of their return to Grays.

The full application and the opportunity to comment can be found via this link.

A full design statement can be read via this link to Thurrock Council's planning portal.