Walsall's £50m School Proposal Labelled 'Money Grabbing Exercise' by Planning Expert
A prominent planning agent in Walsall has launched a scathing critique of new free school proposals, describing them as a 'money grabbing exercise with no regard for huge levels of environmental damage'. Robin Whitehouse, director of Goldfinch Town Planning Services, has raised serious concerns about plans to construct a 1,000-place school at Reedswood Park, arguing it will destroy vital natural habitats and contradict the council's own climate change commitments.
Accusations of a 'Two-Tier Planning System' in Walsall
Whitehouse has further accused Walsall Council of operating what he calls a 'two-tier planning system', suggesting that more affluent eastern areas of the borough receive greater protection against unsuitable development compared to western regions. This criticism emerges as the council progresses through the Regulation 18 stage of developing its new local borough plan, a draft blueprint intended to guide major developments across the area.
The planning agent, who resides in Walsall, expressed frustration that his representations might be 'buried away' during the consultation process. He emphasised the need for transparency, stating he wishes the council would be 'honest with residents' about the environmental impact of development proposals.
Environmental Impact and Contradictory Land Allocations
According to the draft local plan, woodland at Reedswood Park has already been designated for a new free school funded by £50 million of government money from the Department for Education. However, Walsall Council has simultaneously allocated the same site for up to 94 homes, creating what Whitehouse describes as conflicting priorities.
He stated: 'The scale and severity of the school or housing development proposals on the environment would be severe, enormous and considerable. There is absolutely no point in Walsall Council declaring a climate change emergency and taking forward a climate change action plan, if it has absolutely no intention whatsoever to promote sustainable patterns of new development.'
Ecological Concerns and Development Tactics
Whitehouse highlighted specific ecological threats, noting that Reedswood Park contains important bat roosts, excellent bat foraging habitat, and habitats for small hole nesting woodland bird species. He characterised the school development proposal as 'little more than an empire-building and vanity project' led by influential councillors.
The controversy deepened following a 2024 feasibility test conducted by the Department for Education, which involved clearing swathes of woodland and rendered the beauty spot inaccessible from the canal towpath. Whitehouse condemned this action as 'grossly disproportionate', suggesting it was designed to degrade the site's quality to facilitate planning permission.
He remarked: 'It's the kind of behaviour an unscrupulous housing developer gets up to, not public bodies. Walsall Council continues to display poor leadership, poor quality decision-making approaches, poor governance and poor judgement.'
Council's Defence of the Educational Investment
In response, Councillor Mark Statham, portfolio holder for children's, education and lifelong learning at Walsall Council, defended the proposal. He explained: 'Walsall has been chosen as one of sixteen locations in England to receive a new free school which will bring £50 million pound of central government funding into the borough, and additional associated social value in terms of jobs, apprenticeships, and further expenditure in the local economy.'
The proposed school would provide approximately 1,000 additional places for local children, including sixth form provision and 24 SEND high needs places. Following a detailed autumn 2023 study, the Department for Education identified the former Reedswood golf course site, adjacent to Reedswood Park, as the preferred location.
Councillor Statham emphasised the council's statutory duty to provide school places, stating: 'We must meet our statutory duty to provide all Walsall children a school place in line with our sufficiency planning, and the new school will not only help us meet long-term demand for school places but is an active step forward in the We Are Walsall 2040 plan for the borough too.'
He concluded by reaffirming the council's commitment to educational accessibility: 'We want all children, irrespective of background or ability, to have access to a high-quality education and to lead fun, safe and healthy lives.'
