Thank you for your question to Council concerning re-development of the William Penn School. Your question has been passed to me for answering.

On the 11th May, the previous Planning Committee considered an outline application to build a new PFI school on the site. This was approved subject to delegation to the Head of Planning on detailed matters. The planning consent involves a new school, residential development, new access and a new landscaped area. Until I can view all the plans and whole file, I am guided by officers.

The area where the housing is proposed is already built on (part of the existing 1937 school) and there is no loss of playing fields. The existing playing fields are adjacent to the school site and extend into South Bucks. They will remain. The proposed housing is part of the Council’s plan to meet Government imposed targets.

In regard to children’s health, the PFI scheme of which William Penn is a part, includes the provision of high quality outdoor spaces for the children on the William Penn site, as well as community sports facilities on the Beechwood/Arbour Vale campus. Slough has two specialist sports colleges which provide support for other schools in the town, other sports halls have been approved and there is a healthy schools programme encouraging children’s’ health and well-being across the town.

I hope that this answers your concerns.