Planning permission for new SEN unit at St. John the Baptist School, Woking.
Construction began in 2025, with unit expected to reach capacity by 2030.
Education Planning Advice - Surrey County Council, St. John the Baptist School
30
places
proposed at new facility on site of existing school for autistic pupils aged 11- 16 years.
Challenge
Vail Williams was appointed by Surrey County Council as a Framework adviser to secure planning permission a new Special Educational Needs (SEN) unit at St. John the Baptist School in Woking.
How we helped
- Undertook pre-application engagement with key stakeholders and the project team, including architects, Pick Everard, ahead of submitting the planning application.
- Overcame challenges around the site’s location on greenbelt land, by demonstrating very special circumstances for the development, based on educational need.
- As part of the planning application, we also demonstrated that the proposal would not adversely affect the existing playing field layout.
- Highways concerns around additional traffic that would be generated as a result of the scheme were also addressed, by demonstrating that traffic would be compatible with the surrounding area.
“Vail Williams’ expertise in planning advice in the education sector made them well-placed to deliver on our education estate needs at St. John the Baptist School in Woking. They worked collaboratively to achieve planning permission which will see vital SEND provision delivered for the benefit of children in Surrey.”
David Webb, Principal Project Manager at Surrey County Council.
Result
- Education planning experts achieved planning permission enabling Surrey County Council to meet local education needs for secondary-aged pupils.
- The new mainstream SEN unit will provide places for up to 30 autistic students aged 11-16.
- Construction began in September 2025, with expectations that the new unit will reach full capacity by 2030.
- This is one of over 80 construction projects that Surrey County Council’s Land and Property Capital Projects team is delivering via the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) capital programmes.
Get in touch
If you think you may need similar support to that described here, or you would simply want to have an informal chat with a member of our team to discuss your property needs, get in touch.
CrawleyWoking
