Plans for dormitories at a school in Romsey have had an objection from the town council.

Chris Goodrich has applied to change the use of part of the Knatchbull Building from school administration and two small classrooms to residential dormitories.

This is at Mountbatten School in Whitenap Lane.

Romsey Town Council's planning committee submitted an objection, at its meeting on Thursday August 24.

The objection said: “What is the plan to replace the community lounge which is being lost? Recommend there is adequate parking on site for additional staff. Clarity over the staff number and ambiguity of staffing numbers and nitrates. Will visitors be under supervision at all times as this facility is within a residential area?”

The scheme has received no other comments in support or objection. 

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In the application's planning statement, it said: “The Mountbatten School is looking to establish a small residential capacity within a teaching and administration block on site, to increase its capability of positively impacting its students and other young people, through wider inclusion and accessibility to its exceptional facilities. 

“In addition, a residence will enable the school to broaden its portfolio of provision to align with current and future world goals as well as ensuring its values and expertise reach far and wide across the region, country and globe. 

“The proposal is for a handful of rooms in the building to be converted into dormitories as a small residence to compliment the classrooms in the block, which will be used for a variety of educational purposes for teenagers - offering a safe and secure all-in-one facility.

“During term-time the dorms would sometimes be used for hosting international school groups and exchanges, whilst occasionally there would be weekend stays to host educational and activity themed weekends for UK youth programmes and camps or similar. 

“In the school holidays, the dormitories would host teenage students from both the UK and overseas for a variety of different youth programmes such as Sports/Study/Arts/Vocational and Revision Camps as well as potentially hosting groups from UK Government programmes such as NCS and similar.

“Creating a small residential capacity would enhance the Mountbatten School through broadening its capability to meet the needs of a much wider group of young people, normally without access to such a high standard or variety of facilities.”

For more information on the plans, search 23/01788/FULLS on Test Valley Borough Council's online planning portal.