Plans have been tabled to rebuild St. Michael’s Catholic School in Wycombe after parts of the site were condemned due to unsafe concrete.

The school on Daws Hill Lane has applied for permission to demolish ten existing buildings, refurbish one, and construct three new blocks.

These would include a primary school, a secondary school, and a shared building for chapel, dining and assembly halls.

The plans, submitted by John Graham Construction Ltd and the Department for Education,  also feature new landscaping, parking areas, and access routes.

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They come after the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in some of the school’s buildings.

RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete widely used from the 1950s to the 1990s which can crumble and collapse over time.

A artists impression of the new primary school block (Image: St Michaels Catholic School)

The school said some of its current buildings are “no longer fit for purpose”, and that rebuilding will help to provide safe, modern facilities.

Pupils in the primary school are currently being taught in temporary classrooms, which would remain in use during construction.

If approved, the redevelopment would be carried out in phases over four years, with further temporary accommodation installed and later removed once the new buildings are completed.

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The application has been recommended for approval by Buckinghamshire Council’s planning officers, who said the scheme would replace outdated buildings with “modern, sustainable facilities” and have “minimal impact on green space, with no increase in pupil numbers.”

An artist impression of the proposed shared building Image: St Michaels Catholic School

However, the proposal has been “called in” for debate at the West Area Planning Committee by councillor Lesley Clarke, following objections from residents.

Cllr Clarke said she did “not support the school’s travel management plan whatsoever” and warned that Daws Hill Lane was already under heavy strain from traffic.

She said: “[They should] seriously look at the alternative option of gaining access to St Michael’s School from Depot Road via the Handy Cross Hub, thus alleviating Daws Hill Lane from yet more heavy traffic, particularly construction traffic.”

Cllr Clarke added that Daws Hill Lane is “constantly being repaired” due to heavy use and that drains and ironworks are already deteriorating.

Public responses to the plan have been mixed. Two comments supported the proposal, recognising the need to replace ageing buildings.

Others objected, citing concerns over traffic, parking, noise and construction disruption, as well as the flat-roofed design, tree impacts, and a lack of clear measures to manage drop-off and congestion during the build.

The West Area Planning Committee will make its decision on the application at their next meeting on November 19.