New playground approved for Wolverhampton Grammar School juniors
Plans to transform an area of paved land at Wolverhampton Grammar School into a colourful playground for younger pupils have been given the go-ahead.
The establishment on Compton Road has been granted listed building consent for the new facilities at its junior school premises, which opened on the site in 2011.
As well as providing an attractive outdoor play area, the development is also looking to promote conservation and provide new natural habitats for wildlife within the school’s grounds.
A statement from Sheila Porter of agents Broad Planning and Architecture, based at Wolverhampton Science Park, said: “While the grammar school is a listed building, these buildings which surround the site are more recent additions.
“The school is keen to explore opportunities to promote conservation and to create nature areas within the play area scheme and wider school grounds.
“This overall scheme will provide features that will attract nature in terms of flora and fauna as well as providing habitats.
Connected
“The site is located at the rear of the junior school which forms part of the grammar school premises. It consists of a large open area with a raised planter to the south boundary and a further set in the middle of the area.
“There is a small grassed area which incorporates a dwarf memorial tree and a disabled path diagonally across the site which allows wheelchair access. It is overlooked from the library and 6th form school,” it added.
The application was made on behalf of the school by the chair of its board of directors James Sage.
Under the new plans, the existing play area and primary school will be connected by a gate and new doors.
“With the use of colour on fencing and surfaces, this would replace an under-used, uninspiring area of hardstanding with a vibrant, visually appealing play area which is modest in size,” said the statement.
“The proposal creates a high-quality, safe play space for the grammar school which will be visually appealing for those overlooking it from the neighbouring school buildings within the school site.
“Also, the scheme allows for the retention of much of the existing planting including the memorial tree and grassed area,” it added.
Wolverhampton Grammar School was founded in 1512 by Sir Stephen Jenyns, a wool merchant from Wolverhampton, and moved to its present site in Compton Road in 1875.
