'BBC Special School' Ysgol y Deri expansion on the cards

Plans were approved by Vale Council in March after the headteacher of the school, which appeared on BBC series A Special School, described how badly expansion was needed.

The committee voted to approve plans for a new building, proposed for land at Lower Cosmeston Farm to the south of Penarth, which will provide an extra 150 places for pupils.

However, the final decision rested with the Welsh Government after they made a holding direction.

But now the government say the application does not need to be “called in”, paving the way for the Vale Council to rubber stamp the plans.

The decision comes as the Vale Council’s planning officer’s report into the plans raised concerns about the development, including potential risk to the habitats of dormice and bats.

There was also issues about the development cutting into the “green wedge” – green spaces between towns in the Vale.

However, these concerns have been set aside and the Welsh Government is leaving it up to the Vale Council to decide the final outcome of the planned expansion.

In a letter dated June 14, head of planning casework for the government, Hywel Butts wrote: “(The development) is unlikely to have wide effects beyond the immediate locality and is not likely to cause substantial controversy beyond the immediate locality.

“The application does not raise issues of national security, nor does it raise novel planning issues.

“In view of this, I do not consider the application should be called in for determination by the Welsh Ministers and it is now for local planning authorities to determine the application as it sees fit.”

There are plans for a new building, proposed for land at Lower Cosmeston Farm to the south of Penarth, which will provide an extra 150 places for pupils. (Image: Vale Council)

A map of where the new building for Ysgol Y Deri would be built (Image: Vale of Glamorgan Council)

‘We just don’t have enough space’ says Ysgol y Deri head

In a VOG planning committee meeting in March, headteacher of Ysgol Y Deri Chris Britten explained that expansion for the school was badly needed.

“It takes 45 minutes at each end of the day just to get all of the pupils in and back out again into their transports,” explained Mr Britton.

“The children are eating in corridors as there is no dining space and lunchtime takes almost two hours.

The headteacher of Ysgol Y Deri, Chris Britten, who features in BBC Wales documentary 'A Special School', speaking at a Vale of Glamorgan Council planning committee meeting (Image: Supplied)

“We have children in wheelchairs who refuse food and drink because they are afraid that due to the lack of hygiene rooms they will soil themselves and they won’t be able to get changed in time because there are queues at the hygiene rooms.

“We just don’t have enough space for them.”

Good idea? Bad idea? Is it the right place for the expansion of Ysgol y Deri? What about the bats? Let us know your thoughts by writing to harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.