Major plans to demolish and replace the majority of Perryfields Academy in Oldbury are set to be decided next week. The proposal, submitted by the Department for Education, involves knocking down six old buildings in Oldacre Road to make way for a single three-storey replacement.
The application, filed at the end of last year, states that most of the school's buildings have "come to the end of their serviceable life." Sandwell Council's planning committee will meet on June 10 to make a decision, with a recommendation from planning officers to approve the work.
A report accompanying the recommendation says: "The proposed development would be acceptable because it accords with policy, replacing an existing school on an existing school site, does not cause any significant harm to private amenity, and would not be detrimental to highway safety."
The majority of the school's old and temporary buildings would be flattened, including the unused two-storey block, a modular building, the gym, dance studio, changing rooms, dining hall, and kitchen. A two-storey teaching block would be the only building to remain on the current site.
The new three-storey building would be constructed on the school's existing playing fields. New sports and playing fields, including grass football pitches, a running track, five-a-side pitches, basketball and netball courts, would then be built on the old school site and car park. A new car park would replace the former sports hall and outdoor sports courts.
The school's Oldacre Road entrance would also be widened to allow two-way access, easing congestion problems. The application says demolishing old buildings would reduce changeover times between lessons and allow for a more open landscape to improve site surveillance and pupil safety.
The work for the 1,200-pupil school is expected to be completed by 2029. The new three-storey building is hoped to be built by early 2028, with remaining work, including the new sports fields, finished by early 2029.
