Plans for a new special school in have been taken a step forward with an application lodged by the county council.

The school will provide 125 co-educational special educational needs and disability (SEND) places specifically for pupils between 8-16 years with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs and is planned to open in September 2026.

Hampshire County Council has submitted a planning application to construct the new Luminous Oak SEMH school in Boorley Green.

The new £17.9 million school would be a modified version of the council's completed Cody Oaks SEMH School in Farnborough.

The council said it is committed to expanding its SEMH capacity in response to the significant rise in the number of children requiring these facilities in recent years.

Data indicated that the current capacity in Hampshire special schools averages over 100.2 per cent.

Additionally, the number of pupils with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) has grown substantially across the county, jumping from 5,000 in 2015 to over 14,000 by autumn 2022. Approximately 40 per cent of these students require a place in a specialist school.

If approved, the former agricultural grassland will be transformed into a modern educational facility featuring 15 general teaching classrooms and seven specialized and practical teaching spaces, including the ‘Eden Room’ for tailored instruction and therapy.

It will also have sensory, therapy, and small group rooms, soft play and sensory rooms, two learning resource rooms, a main hall for gatherings, a fitness suite for physical activities, and a dining hall with an adjacent kitchen.

The building will have staff and administrative offices, parent meeting rooms and restrooms for pupils and staff.

Primary and secondary pupils will have their own dedicated library and food tech room within their respective building wing.

Secondary-age pupils will have access to a ground-floor DT workshop and a Science Laboratory, Art Room, Music Classroom, and Dedicated Fitness Suite on the second floor.

Given the characteristics of the SEMH cohort, most students will be transported to and from school by dedicated vehicles, with only a handful arriving on foot.

To improve safety and accessibility, a new footpath is proposed to connect the main entrance gate on Flycatcher Road directly to the main entrance, eliminating the need for pedestrians to cross through the vehicle loop.

The planning statement highlighted that the large oak tree next to the proposed main entrance will be preserved as an essential element.

New native trees and hedgerows are planned, along with extra trees and vegetation planted within the site boundary.