A PLANNING application has been submitted to increase the number of 'temporary' school places at the Orsett Heath Academy at Thurrock Rugby Club by 120.

It is hoped to build a new two storey building adjacent to the first school building, which has now been in use since opening in September 2020 to the first cohort of secondary school students.

Planning approval was given, albeit with some regret by councillors who felt their hands were being forced by the pressure of a shortage of school places, in November last year for the complete new Orsett Heath school to be built on existing rugby club youth pitches.

Several councillors said they would not have approved the building becasue of its location in the green belt and significant concerns about traffic pressures, but felt they had no choice but to do so because of the schools place shortage.

Work has yet to start on that project but now the new application will go before councillors because a submission by South West Essex Community Education Trust, which also runs the William Edwards School, that places pressure continues to grow.

The full design submission for the new temporary block, which will be in the green belt, can be found via this link

It highlights the fact that the existing block, which will eventually be donated to the rugby club for its own use, is already out of date.

The report says the facility was 'designed for Year 7 and Year 8 pupils only and did not account for three years groups worth of staff facilities, a pastoral office parents meeting room of time out space'.

Access to the new building, if given, will be the existing entrance to the rugby club.

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