Snowflake School wants to occupy former Salvation Army building on Crown Street

Plans are being prepared for submission to change a former Salvation Army hall in Acton into a school for children with autism.

The Snowflake School for Children with Autism  was founded 11 years ago and is an independent non-profit day school, registered with the Department of Education as a Non Association Independent Special School.

It currently operates in Earls Court and provides for pupils between the ages of 5 and 16 with autism and related communication disorders. It is registered for a maximum of 17 pupils and employs 26 staff members.

Snowflake School wants to acquire the lease of No.10 - 14 Crown Street to ''provide a specialist educational facility for diagnosed children between the ages of 12 - 16 years.'' It's proposed that the school will have capacity for a maximum of 30 pupils.

The building is opposite the Crown Street Doctors Surgery and chemist, close by is the Six Bells pub on the corner with Acton High Street, with Morrisons just beyond.

It was previously a Salvation Army Hall, more recently it has been used as office accommodation, but is currently disused and the building is currently vacant.

rear of building

The application does not propose for any alterations to the outside of the existing building. However, the parking area at the back will be used as a collection/drop off point for 10 minutes at the beginning and end of each school day pupils who travel via (mini buses) and private car. Outside of these times, the area will provide an outside play space for the pupils.

Allen Planning Ltd are the consultants who have prepared the report and don't believe there will be any 'amenity harm to the neighbouring uses in the adjacent properties or further afield'.

They point out that parking on site (5 spaces) will only serve to provide a dedicated drop off and collection area at the beginning and end of each school day, supervised by staff members, to ensure that delays are reduced.

There will be no staff parking on site, and no visitor provision. The proposed use will have no material adverse effect on the area in terms of traffic generation and parking.

They conclude, '' Taking into account this assessment, and all relevant planning matters, we consider that there are sound planning reasons to support this proposal for a flexible permission for either Class B1(a) or Class D1 use.''

If given planning permission it's proposed the school will be open during term times (39 weeks/year) on Monday through to Fridays from 09:00 to 15:00 for pupils, and 08:30 to 16:00 for staff members.

21 November 2019