PROPOSALS for Worcester’s new secondary school and a multi-storey car park have made it through an early part of the planning process.

Plans for the school and an 850-space car park near Worcestershire Royal Hospital went on public display last month.

Worcestershire County Council has now adopted a Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion for the project.

This is a technical consideration based on whether a proposal is likely to have a significant environmental impact.

In this instance, it was considered the school and car park plans would not be likely to result in significant environmental effects, in EIA terms.

AWARD-WINNING: Some of Prime's other car parksAWARD-WINNING: Some of Prime's other car parks (Image: James Connell/Newsquest photo of Prime display images)

The proposal itself is classed by the county council as a ‘hybrid application’ - it contains a full, detailed, application for the secondary school and outline plans for the multi-storey car park, which is hoped to ease the pressure on existing hospital car parks.

Planning applications for the two developments can now be submitted and will go to public consultation.

Worcester City Council, Warndon Parish Council and other agencies including Worcestershire Highways will also be consulted.

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The plans will eventually be decided on by members of the county council’s planning and regulatory committee.

The car park scheme is being developed by Prime. It would be accessed off Nunnery Way (A4440) and the developer says it would reduce journeys on Newtown Road and ease congestion in and around the hospital site.

VISION: An artist's impression of Worcester's new secondary schoolVISION: An artist's impression of Worcester's new secondary school (Image: Worcestershire County Council)

The joint application for the school aims to provide more school places in the city.

The proposed development comprises a 600 place mainstream secondary school for pupils between the age range of 11 and 16.

It was revealed earlier this year that the likely opening of the school has been pushed back to 2028, while the capital budget for the project has increased from £50 million to £59.9m, plus an additional £2.6m to help accommodate additional pupils at existing Worcester secondary schools.