Acre Wood SEN School
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ECE Planning
Planning permission for a new SEND school in Crowborough
ECE Planning was appointed as planning consultants by East Sussex County Council and Willmott Dixon to lead the planning process for a new 60-place SEND secondary school building at Acre Wood in Crowborough, East Sussex.
Designed to support pupils with a diverse range of additional needs, including autism spectrum disorder and profound and multiple learning disabilities, the purpose-built school provides a tailored learning environment alongside dedicated outdoor learning and play areas, landscaping, and sustainable drainage.
A planning strategy shaped around delivery
A key challenge was programme. Planning permission needed to be secured within a demanding timeframe to enable construction to progress in line with the school’s planned term opening dates.
ECE Planning developed a proactive planning strategy focused on identifying and resolving potential issues early, while maintaining momentum throughout the planning process.
Ahead of submission, we led a series of pre-application discussions with the Local Planning Authority, working through key design considerations including the building’s height, appearance, layout, and architectural detailing. This early engagement helped shape the proposals and establish a clear route towards a successful planning application.
Proactive engagement with technical consultees
We also identified highways and drainage as potential programme risks at an early stage. Drawing on our experience of managing planning applications in East Sussex, we coordinated targeted, paid-for engagement with the Highway Authority and Lead Local Flood Authority following submission.
This allowed technical matters to be addressed proactively, rather than waiting for issues to emerge through the statutory consultation process, helping to maintain momentum towards determination.
Alongside this technical engagement, we facilitated public consultation with parents, neighbours, and school representatives, ensuring that local views were understood and appropriately considered as the proposals developed.
Securing planning permission
Throughout determination, ECE Planning acted as the central point of coordination between the client, design team, Local Planning Authority, and technical consultees. We responded swiftly to emerging matters relating to biodiversity, tree protection, visual impact, highways, and drainage, keeping the application moving against the project programme.
ECE Planning successfully steered the application through the determination process and supported the proposals at Planning Committee, securing planning permission for this important new educational facility within the required programme.
Our involvement continued beyond the grant of planning permission, supporting the project team with the submission and discharge of planning conditions to maintain momentum towards construction and the opening of the new school.
Through early engagement, proactive problem solving, and close management of the planning programme, ECE Planning helped unlock the timely delivery of much-needed specialist education provision in Crowborough.
