Harbour School granted planning permission

Date posted: June 10, 2020

Planning permission has been granted for a new purpose built special school in Bovington for 160 pupils with Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs or Autistic Spectrum Condition. Dorset has an urgent need for additional SEN school places and the school, operated by The Delta Group will cater for primary, secondary and post 16 students and will have a strong emphasis on vocational subjects.

In conjunction with contractor Galliford Try, ArchitecturePLB worked closely with Technical Advisors and PM MACE, as well as the DfE, and the school’s operator to design a building which will create a safe and nurturing environment for staff and students.

As the ASC and SEMH cohorts have very different learning requirements, the school has been designed as a series of zones or wings each with their own entrances, teaching areas and external spaces, but with access to shared facilities. Circulation routes have been carefully considered to ensure that the different groups of students will be kept separate when moving around the building. A series of courtyards will create safe and calming breakout spaces for each zone of the school.

The project is due to start on site this summer for completion winter 2021/2022