£17k-a-term boarding school's plans set for approval – despite council opposition

The scheme will see the creation of a three-storey boarding house with 60 en-suite bedrooms, staff accommodation, the re-provision of car parking spaces, and the resurfacing of a private track.

Other elements of the plans include tree removal and hard and soft landscaping work.

The boarding house would be built in north-east section of the campus, next to the existing boarding houses.

Acton Burnell Frodesley Pitchford Ruckley and Langley Parish Council has 'strongly objected' to the plan over the impact of the building on the local skyline.

It said that the building, which would be around 13 metres tall, "would become a local landmark overshadowing the beautiful views and heritage buildings of the village".

In a report which recommends the planning committee approves the proposal, planning officer Lynn Parker says that changes have been made to address criticisms.

She said they included reducing the height of the building by 0.6m and using black bricks instead of red, as well as a darker stain for timer cladding.

The school is hugely popular with overseas students and currently has pupils from around 40 different countries studying at the site.

It has built up a reputation for excellence and last year it was the winner of the Independent Schools of the Year award for best International Student Experience.

Ranked as one of the top 125 private schools in the world, Concord College was also named as Independent School of the Year for the West Midlands in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2024.

It has been based at the Acton Burnell site since 1973, caters for pupils aged 13 to 18, and has a pupil roll of 582 – of which 115 are day pupils and 467 are boarders.

Boarding fees at the school for 2023/24 are £17,800 per term, and £53,400 per annum.

Delivering her verdict Ms Parker accepts that the building will be visible from outside the campus but says the proposal is acceptable – and should be approved.

She said: "The proposed boarding house and associated works, as amended, with a reduction in height, a revised materials palette with darker more recessive finishes and a more robust landscaping strategy is acceptable development for specialist housing where there is an identified need in this appropriate campus location serving a viable and internationally recognised College.

"Whilst the proposed boarding house would be visible from outside the campus and could not be fully screened, it has been identified that a building of this scale is required and it is of a commensurate scale with the adjacent boarding houses. Both the design of the building and the landscape strategy now proposed would help to reduce potential impact from the mass of the structure.

"Sufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that this is the most viable site within the campus where the new boarding house will have the least impact on the various environments concerned.

"The development would not adversely impact on the character and appearance of heritage assets or their settings and would provide enhanced landscaping appropriate to the surrounding parkland."

A decision on the proposal will be taken at next week's meeting.