A NEW HOME FOR THE FENLAND JUNCTION PUPIL REFERRAL UNIT

Cambridgeshire County Council has submitted a planning application for a new home for the Fenland Junction Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) on a site off Norwood Road in March.
The existing PRU is based in the former schoolhouse on Station Road. However, this site cannot meet current national standards and Cambridgeshire County Council has secured funding to provide a new PRU in March as part of the government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

PRUs provide an alternative approach to learning, based on smaller group sizes and education with a more practical focus for young people who have difficulty in mainstream education.

A number of possible sites have been considered for the new, purpose-built PRU. Part of the site off Norwood Road is the preferred site because it is well located in March and provides sufficient space for the buildings and external recreational areas required by the PRU.

Part of the development proposal includes facilities, which will benefit the local community, including a five-a-side football pitch and out of hours use of other PRU facilities.

This initial planning application is for outline planning permission to establish the principle of locating the new PRU on part of the Norwood Road site. If the application is successful detailed designs for the new PRU will be drawn up and a further full planning application will be made in two or three years time.

An exhibition about this proposal will be held at Maple Grove Infant School in March on 1 July 2009. Local residents are invited to drop in any time between 5:00pm – 8:00pm to view the plans and raise any questions they might have with Council officers and staff from the PRU.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For more information, contact BSF Programme Director Alan Kippax at Cambridgeshire County Council on 01223 716152

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