Plans for new state-of-the-art Portsmouth school to go before planning committee

The government has agreed to fund the creation of a new three-storey building for King Richard School, in Paulsgrove.

The proposals were met with controversy as the Department for Education won’t fund a school providing 1,000 places.

But the council has decided to make up the estimated £2m shortfall in the £11m project and ensure there are 1,000 places available by turning some land, including fields, into homes and community facilities.

Planning officers have recommended ahead of Wednesday’s meeting that permission be granted for the development.

But concerns have been raised about the design of the new build. In a report to be presented to the committee, The Portsmouth Society says the ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to create a school with the ‘wow factor’ should ‘not be missed’.

The society says: ‘We feel that the proposed new building is best described as “functional” and lacks any architectural merit. It’s simply a square box with a flat roof.’

The meeting is at Portsmouth Guildhall from 1pm.