A Bath school has submitted a retrospective planning application for an outdoor shelter.
Bathwick St Mary CofE Primary School at Darlington Road | Image © Google Street View / Google 2024
Bathwick St Mary CofE Primary School at Darlington Road had understood that a planning application was not required for the open-sided shelter when it was installed in April.
It was constructed to provide children who do not enjoy the busyness of the playground environment a quiet space to sit and read, draw and chat with friends during break times.
In wetter weather, children also have a dry space to still enjoy being outside in the fresh air.
It also provides parents with a dry space to wait to collect their children at the end of the school day.
The new shelter has been put up in a corner of the playground but in a central position between a number of classrooms. It is said to be a very convenient position for children to access that does not inhibit the very limited playground space.
The planning application to Bath & North East Somerset Council says that the shelter has been built using almost 100% renewable timber materials, resulting in a carbon-negative footprint.
It has a green sedum roof and the school has added artificial grass to blend into the all-weather play area immediately next to it.
Additional rubber matting has also been installed under the artificial grass within the shelter to provide acoustic absorption.
The deadline for anyone wishing to comment is 9th December. The planning reference is 24/04357/FUL.
