New Woodlands Meed college finally given green light

The Burgess Hill special school has been fighting for the last decade for the facilities, but the project has faced numerous delays and doubts have been cast on the timescale and scope of the works.

But on Friday, Nigel Jupp, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for  education and skills, confirmed more than £20m would be available to finally complete the school over the next three-and-a-half years.

The targeted completion date would be the summer/autumn of 2023.

He said: “I’m pleased to report that this council will be proceeding with all haste to complete Woodlands Meed to provide a new [college] building able to provide all the necessary facilities for 100 pupils.”

Mr Jupp had met with the governors and headteacher earlier in the week for a ‘good discussion’ and hoped they would be able to establish regular meetings between the council and school.

There were a number of challenges including the access to the site and working with Sport England over the loss of playing fields, but he was confident these could be addressed at the planning permission stage.

He also described the new timescales for completion as ‘prudent and realistic’.

After the meeting a statement on behalf of Woodlands Meed’s governors said they were ‘pleased and cautiously optimistic’ about the announcement.

They said they are committed to working with council officers to get the ‘best possible outcome for the well-deserving students and staff at the college’.

They added: “We are delighted that today’s announcement is a positive step in the right direction and will be putting in place arrangements to reinstate the

project board meetings as soon as possible.”

When asked about the delay from September 2021 to Summer 2023 they said: “The governors regret the extended timeframe and consequent delay and will do everything within our power to ensure the new college is completed just as soon as possible. We will also do all we can to help families affected by the delay.

“We are looking forward to resuming work with the council to drive this project forward, and more importantly, we are looking forward to a major celebration when the first digger arrives on site.”

Mims Davies, Mid Sussex MP said: “I’m so pleased for all the students, parents, leadership, governors and campaigners that Woodlands Meed will be completed as we all wanted.

“Today the cabinet member for education at West Sussex County Council, Councillor Nigel Jupp, has confirmed  they will work with all haste to deliver the rebuild at this college site targeted at 2023 working alongside all local stakeholders.

“I know many people have campaigned hard for this and I pay tribute to and thank everybody who has come together to get this vital project moving.

“During the general election campaign,  I promised my support to the leadership, the governors, campaigners, councillors and vitally parents and carers to work to  push for the delivery of a workable solution for students. I was determined to see this day happen.

“I’m thrilled that the county council have rightly signed this budget off today.”

Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, added: “Very pleased that a