A SCHOOL in Sindlesham is to build a new sports hall with swimming pool after permission was granted by Wokingham Borough Council.
Reddam House, located off Bearwood Road, is a day and boarding school for children aged from three months to 18 years.
It is based in what was Bearwood College and is the former home to the Walter family.
Although the school already has a covered pool, the existing building was judged to be in a “poor state of repair” according to a report by council planning officers, while the existing gym is “not of sufficient size or specification to serve the school’s current needs.”
The replacement sports hall will have an observation deck on its first floor and expanded changing facilities.
To create the new facility and a 16-space car park, three ancillary single-storey buildings and a low boundary wall will be demolished.
The project was discussed by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee, with Cllr Rebecca Margetts commenting that the plan would be a ‘big improvement’ on the existing swimming pool.
The Finchampstead South councillor added: “Looking at these buildings this would actually be a huge improvement for the site. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of having to take one of my children swimming in that swimming pool so any improvement would be a big improvement.”
The school’s owners required listed building consent for the project as the historic main building is Grade II* listed.
Two plans had to be submitted: one outlining the project itself application 221843, and the other for listed building consent application 222319.
Both were approved unanimously by the council’s planning committee on Wednesday, April 12.
The new sports hall and exterior for the pool will provide facilities alongside the school’s existing , a 4G turf pitch, netball courts, tennis courts, dance studios and grass pitches for outdoor sports such as rugby, football and cricket.
The school is one of 13 worldwide, with the majority being in South Africa and Australia.
