Disused warehouse seen as ideal location for special needs school

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A derelict warehouse in Thornton Heath could soon be transformed into a new school.

Plans have been submitted to build a special needs school off Bensham Manor Road in a warehouse bordering train tracks. A Zoopla listing shows the site has been sold, subject to contract, for around £1.4 million.

The proposals were submitted by Eneanya Bonito of Right Support Management. A design statement said it would be called The Bridge SEN School.

For almost 10 years the building was let to an “educational centre” on a temporary licence, but has been empty since 2018. Before that, it was used as warehouse space for an electrical contracting business.

Floorplans show the school would have five classrooms, an activity room and a sensory room.

The planning application reads: “This is to be a purpose-built SEN School in
Thornton Heath within easy access to and from Croydon town centre, addressing the limited amount of SEN schools available to the local community.

“It is also expected that Croydon Council and adjacent local boroughs will be able to make referrals and send potential students to the proposed The Bridge SEN School for their education and health care needs and associated recreational and training requirements for students with SEN needs.

“The local authorities are expected to have several student referrals who have special education needs, and the numbers of potential students may grow in the coming years as ‘The Bridge SEN School’ aims to continue to improve its facilities.”

The plans say the school would be “car free” with just two parking spaces provided for visitors. The warehouse is accessed by a narrow track between terraced houses close to Bensham Manor Road’s junction with Whitehorse Road.

The application, which has the reference number 22/03301/FUL, was submitted last month and public consultation is open until November 9. A decision is expected to be made by December 6.

Pictured top: The empty warehouse that could be turned into a special needs school (Picture: Right Support Management)