School's 'innovation centre' approved by council

A Surrey private school has been granted permission to build a state-of-the-art "innovation centre", which includes a virtual reality suite, art showroom and a film studio.

Caterham School received the green light from Tandridge District Council to demolish an existing gatehouse building, garages and squash court to make way for the new facility.

The school - which charges up to £21,255 per term for full boarding fees - says it needs the two-storey, 1,900 square metre block to deliver its curriculum.

The building will also contain an engineering and design space and business library, as well as several classrooms and offices, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

While the site falls within the green belt, Tandridge District Council planning officers decided the plans would not "result in substantial harm to the openness of the green belt".

They noted it would be built on previously developed land.

Several residents had filed objections to the plans, with one calling the demolition of the lodge house "regrettable" and the development "out-of-keeping" with the existing school building.

Others raised concerns there could be increased traffic in the area.

But officers ultimately approved the application, writing the proposed building had been "significantly revised" following an earlier withdrawn scheme.

Caterham School's headmaster Ceri Jones, said: "We are incredibly excited about what the Innovation Centre will bring to our pupils, and our partner primary schools across the East Surrey Learning Partnership.

"It is clear that in a rapidly changing world, our young people need not just top academic grades but digital and innovation skills to thrive."

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