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Plans to build a huge education campus catering for more than 2,200 secondary and primary school pupils have been given the green light.
The scheme, the Alkerden C of E Academy, will be built in the Ebbsfleet Garden City development between Dartford and Gravesend.
Look inside the new Kent education campus coming to Ebbsfleet Garden City
Ebbsfleet Development Corporation’s (EDC) planning committee met tonight to discuss the proposals before voting unanimously to approve them.
It now paves the way for a combined school and sports hub which will occupy an 11.1 hectare site, making it one of the largest educational facilities ever to be built in Kent.
The project accommodates an eight-form-entry secondary school and a two-form entry primary school and nursery with a community sports centre and sports pitches, as well as play areas and car and cycle parking.
Once the education campus is completed, now set to be September 2023, it will be managed by the Aletheia Anglican Academies Trust, which previously won a tender to open the new school from Kent County Council (KCC).
The new on-site secondary school will have space for 1,680 pupils, including a sixth form and a 25-place special resource provision for autistic pupils.
It will be accompanied by a primary school with room for 446 pupils and will also cater for early years and special educational needs.
Pupils will be able to take advantage of a wide range of sports facilities on offer, including a dual use sports centre with a four-court sports hall, dance studio, fitness suite and a café/bar.
There will also be sports pitches to entertain football and cricket games, three tennis courts and a running track.
The planning officers report concluded: "Overall, the scheme is very well resolved, performing strongly against all urban design, architecture, sustainability and accessibility evaluation frameworks that were assessed, and well-aligned to EDC’s own design guidance on architectural character, landscape design and sustainable travel.
"The scheme delivers on Garden City principles for the 20th century through a well-considered and imaginatively designed scheme which offers employment opportunities in close proximity to homes, and design focus on sustainability using energy positive technology with an orientation toward public transport."
A planning application for the development was submitted to the EDC - the planning authority for the Garden City - in December 2019.
KCC also considered the proposals and concluded that they would provide "the required additional capacity in education provision" needed to meet the demand generated by the related housing developments.
Following resolution of the Section 106 Agreement, it is hoped that work on the new project will begin in the summer of 2021.
It is envisaged that the secondary school will open by September 2022 initially providing capacity for 600 pupils and in due course would expand to 900 pupils and then 1,200 pupils in line with demand.
The primary school on the Education Campus is expected to open a year later than the secondary school.
And while it would be built with capacity for 420 pupils, it would open in a phased manner providing classrooms for nursery, reception and year groups as demand requires.
It is the first major application to come forward in Alkerden Village, which forms part of the Eastern Quarry development where there are plans for more than 6,000 homes.
The design was led by by architects Lee Evans Partnership on behalf of the developer and landowner, Henley Camland.
Lee Evans Partnership’s London Partner, Mark Nolan, said: “This is great news - this project is the result of close collaboration between the design team, Henley Camland, the operator - Aletheia Anglican Academies Trust - and Kent County Council, culminating in approval by the planners at EDC.
"We have imagined the campus as both an educational and civic centre.
"Careful consideration has been given to access and circulation routes across the site’s sloping landscape.
"These level changes, together with the use of various textures and materials, will help to engender a sense of place.
"The quality of this new learning environment will greatly benefit pupils and students as well as providing Ebbsfleet with a state-of-the-art sports and community facility."
Reacting to tonight's planning decision, Peter Nelson, director of Henley Camland said: "We are delighted to bring forward Alkerden CofE Academy, this ultra- modern education hub sitting at the heart of the Whitecliffe development.
"Aside from the advanced education provision, the community will be able to access the superb sporting facilities during out-of-school hours.
"Easily accessible via Fastrack and the network of cycleways and footpaths nearby, it means all users will have access to excellent facilities supporting healthy and active lifestyles, as well as education.”
Stephen Carey, chief executive officer of the Aletheia Anglican Academies Trust which will run the schools, also expressed their delight.
“We are delighted to have been selected as the academy operator for such an exciting and prestigious project," he said.
"The new buildings and facilities will allow us to provide a truly first-class educational and social experience for the first generation of young people residing in the Garden City.
"We understand the existing surrounding suburban area well and will use our knowledge and experience to ensure that we fully utilise this opportunity to promote social cohesion between the new and existing communities.
"It has been a pleasure working closely with all members of the project team and I believe we have collectively delivered plans for a learning campus that will facilitate an exceptional all- through education from nursery to post 16-provision.”
Mark Pullin, chief planning officer with EDC, said: “We are thrilled Ebbsfleet Garden City will be home to this great campus that will not only be one of the largest educational facilities in Kent but will also bring massive benefits to the emerging communities that will form over the next few years as well as those that have already made the Garden City their home.”
Also approved tonight were plans for 126 new homes at Ebbsfleet Green, an existing community in the Garden City.
The one and two-bedroom homes will have 47 affordable homes including five wheelchair accessible properties.
It is the last phase of the development by Redrow, which moved its south east headquarters to the Garden City two years ago.
