A BID to open a new school at the side of one of Bradford’s busiest roads has been refused after highways officers claimed anyone walking to it would be “clearly unsafe.”
And there were also claims the school’s location would cause “significant harm to the health outcomes” of future pupils.
Pivot Academy submitted a planning application to open a school off Canal Road earlier this year.
The academy would provide education for pupils with special educational needs or have struggled in mainstream schools, and would be created in the former Uni Express offices on Kings Gate – next to the Ibis Budget hotel.
It would have 70 pupils and create 30 jobs, and an outdoor games area would be created next to the building.
But the application has been refused by Bradford Council – with the location of the building providing numerous concerns for planners.
Although the application said most pupils would be dropped off at the school by car and taxi, highways officers said there were no safe pedestrian or cycle links to the school in the plans.
They said: “This a large principal highway which hosts large volumes of vehicular traffic through the district.
“It is clear here that the site suffers from poor pedestrian access from surrounding highways, and would be highly dependent on car travel for access.
“Indeed, public transport and cycle infrastructure surrounding is noted as lacking, and any pedestrian access would be clearly unsafe.”
There were also concerns over the health impacts of locating a school next to one of the busiest roads in the district.
Officers said: “It is clear that Canal Road and land adjacent suffer from high levels of air quality pollution. Owing to the proposed highways access arrangement, it is most likely that pupils of the proposed school would access the site via taxis or private vehicle drop offs, further exacerbating existing air quality concerns.
“It is further acknowledged that the proposed school would be for the use of individuals with pre-existing complex health needs. In this sense, it is considered the change of use would have clear potential to worsen health outcomes for an existing vulnerable population within society.
“The proposal is considered likely to result in significant health impacts for future users of the site.”
Officers also pointed out that the office building sits in an Employment Zone – where business use should be encouraged over all other uses.
They added: “Employment Zones should retain employment generating uses which contribute to the wider commercial and industrial functions of such areas.”
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