Education Planning Advice - Surrey County Council, St. John the Baptist School

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.

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.