Schools & Education · Swindon
Plans for new Swindon special needs school at Kembrey Trading Estate cancelled
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
The Brunel Academies Trust has scrapped proposals to transform a building at Kembrey Trading Estate into a special needs school, citing suitability concerns.
Plans to convert a building at Kembrey Trading Estate into a new special educational facility have been formally abandoned by the Brunel Academies Trust. The project, which was initially granted planning permission by Swindon Borough Council in 2025, will not proceed after the trust determined the site was unsuitable for its requirements.
Mulberry House had been earmarked for the development, with initial proposals including the creation of a school spanning both floors and the conversion of part of the existing car park into a dedicated play area. Despite the council approving the plans subject to additional safety measures—due to concerns regarding the site's proximity to a road frequently used by heavy goods vehicles—no physical transformation of the premises ever took place.
The site has since been occupied by a new tenant, with the building currently being rented out as office space by the Scottish real estate firm Inglis Howie.
Paul Davis, the development and analytics lead at the Brunel Academies Trust, confirmed the change in direction. He stated that the organisation has no plans to open a SEND provision at the Mulberry Building, noting that the project was originally intended as a relocation and expansion of an existing service rather than the establishment of an entirely new school.
Instead of seeking a new location, the trust has confirmed it will focus on expanding its current infrastructure. By extending an existing school, the trust aims to deliver necessary additional special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) places more efficiently. While the trust has not yet confirmed which specific site will host the extension, it noted that similar projects have been successfully delivered at local schools, including Brimble Hill, within the last five years.
The trust maintains that it has no ongoing involvement with the Mulberry Building and that no alternative sites are being considered as part of this particular project, as the focus has shifted entirely to expanding existing provisions within its current portfolio.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Politics · View original