Plans to open Burton’s mothballed University Technical College (UTC) as a sixth form centre are moving closer – if plans to extend its car park are given the green light, it has been revealed.
The de Ferrers Academy has applied to turn the basketball court and bike area into a car park with 43 spaces – giving the biggest hint yet that the school will take over the never-used UTC building, in Waterloo Street, in the town.
The state-of-the-art facility, which cost £8.6 million to build, was due to open in September 2015.
However, the plan to open the Burton and South Derbyshire University Technical College was put back a year due to low pupil numbers, then shelved altogether in September 2016.
The de Ferrers Academy Trust, which already runs several schools in the area later revealed its bid to run the facility as a sixth form college, while Wolverhampton University, which runs a nurse training facility at Burton's Queen's Hospital, also put in a proposal to take over the running of the empty building.
However, de Ferrers has now applied to East Staffordshire Borough Council to extend the car park before it moves in.
A report compiled by Building Design Group Ltd, acting as agents to the academy, said the increase in car parking spaces was to cope with its “new use” as a sixth form centre.
The report: “The application proposes the increase of parking to their existing car park to cope with its new use as a sixth form college.
“The site comprises the former Burton UTC building, now to be acquired by the de Ferrers Academy, an access road from Waterloo Street and a local authority’s owned car park adjacent to the rear of the building.
“The proposed parking offers the ability to add essential dedicated parking under control of the academy for staff and pupils respectively. The development is essential to the long standing success of the academy and will enable further sustainable employment and expansion opportunities.”
The report added that due to the poor uptake of the UTC as an education centre, de Ferrers Academy was approached to take on the building as part of its academy.
The report added: “However the provision of dedicated parking on site is an essential need in order for them to take on the building. The application site is located in an area adjacent to other parking.
"However this is local authority owned and operated by permit only which will not be acceptable to the operation of the main facility. The scheme will have no negative social impact but will have a positive economic impact upon the future sustainability of the business.”
The area proposed for parking is currently occupied by planters, a cycle compound and a basketball/football court.
A decision on who will take over the building was originally expected at the end of January, with both organisations poised to occupy the UTC building in time for the new academic year in September 2017.
A spokesman for the Department for Education said a decision would be made in due course.
The saga of the UTC
March 2015
UTC had been scheduled to open in September 2015 but was put back a year after the number of people signing up to attend did not meet 'the viable minimum'.
September 2015
Originally opening date which never materialised.
October 2015
The Burton Mail was invited for a sneak peak around the UTC with an opening date of September 2016.
September 2016
Plans for a UTC are shelved altogether due to low pupil numbers.
January 2017
Decision due on new ownership of the UTC, but wasn’t made.
July 2017
The de Ferrers Academy applies for planning permission to extend the UTC car park
Nick Holmes, principal of the de Ferrers Academy said: "At the moment the UTC doesn't have a car park which would preclude any institution from making use of it.
"In order to move forward with that building we need to create a car park so we have submitted a planning application which we hope will be successful.
"The site is a multi-use games area which used to be the town hall car park. If it is approved we can then look seriously at using the UTC."
