Plans to build a new school site have been submitted for consideration.

Hertfordshire County Council plans to move Breakspeare School, currently in Gallows Hill Lane in Abbots Langley, to the disused former Durrants School playing field, next to Little Green Junior School in Croxley Green.

The idea is council approved but actually building the new special school is subject to planning permission.

The finalised designs have now been submitted and will be available to view as part of the public consultation stage of the planning process from Tuesday (March 5).

Once members of the public have had a chance to have their say, the council’s planning officers or its development control committee will make their decision.

While the application was being finalised, an informal consultation was held to inform what would ultimately be proposed and share an early look at the designs.

Watford Observer: CGI proposed school site.CGI proposed school site. (Image: Hertfordshire County Council)

CGIs showed the school site would be arranged as one large structure in a box shape around a courtyard divided into two by a triangular central area with extra rooms.

The paved area, including car parks, covers roughly two thirds of the vacant field, with the majority of the remaining land set to be used for sports pitches.

A significant issue considered in the earlier proposal was how the site would be accessed and respondents were given six options to support. The existing site in Gallows Hill Lane is apparently not large enough and cannot have its capacity adequately increased.

Watford Observer: The proposed site (outlined in red). Other part of the field set for sports pitches..The proposed site (outlined in red). Other part of the field set for sports pitches.. (Image: Hertfordshire County Council)

It is not yet clear which access has ultimately been decided on, but Manor Way to the south of the site was the front-runner.

In 2022, when the move was given the green light from the council, Breakspeare School offered 97 places.

Ahead of the full relocation, the existing school has been provided with a satellite location at Holywell Primary School, in Watford, to take capacity to 145 places from the beginning of this year.

Watford Observer: The proposed building layout (pre-application stage).The proposed building layout (pre-application stage). (Image: Hertfordshire County Council)

Once the consultation begins, the planning documents can be viewed via the Hertfordshire County Council planning portal with the reference PL/0388/24.

The proposal was formally submitted on February 19.

Watford Observer: CGI of the proposed school.CGI of the proposed school. (Image: Hertfordshire County Council)