A “land grab” by the Government could see a new secondary school built on a playing field.
In a rare move, Whitehall officials want to seize public land in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, and hand it to The King’s Church of England free school.
The proposal could see the site, which includes a sports field used by 2,000 pupils a week, concreted over.
It comes weeks after an application to classify the land as a village green to give it greater protection was submitted by residents.
Ward councillor Ruth Buckley said: “This is another example of the Government bypassing local authorities and grabbing land for pet projects such as free schools and academies.
“We have a desperate shortage of school places in the city but the solution is not to cement over well-used green spaces.”
The King’s School is due to open in September, offering education to up to 1,100 11 to 18-year-olds.
It will initially open at Portslade Sixth Form Centre in High Street but will need a bigger premises due to expanding numbers.
The plan is to relocate after three years.
'Most suitable site'
A search by the Department for Education (DfE) and Brighton and Hove City Council has failed to find a site.
The Education Funding Agency (EFU), an offshoot of the DfE, has now said its preferred location is the land shared by BHASVIC and Cardinal Newman School.
Officials said the loss of part of the playing field was a “last resort” but that it was the “most suitable deliverable site in the area”.
Steve Flavin, the headteacher of The King’s School, said: “This announcement, although a little unexpected, is very heartening.
“It shows just how seriously the DfE and the council are taking the demand for a new Church of England secondary school in Brighton and Hove.”
'Undermined'
James Kilmartin, the acting headteacher at Cardinal Newman, said: “We’re a really successful school.
“To find ourselves undermined like this is remarkable.”
BHASVIC principal Chris Thomson said he was “surprised”, adding he hoped to discover more at a meeting with Government officials on Monday (April 15).
The land is used for a variety of school sports, including football and tennis, and by outside sports teams and residents as a recreation area.
The council is currently considering an application to have the land designated as a village green after residents asked for the protection.
Lou McCurdy, of Friends of the Field, said: “We’re reeling from the news but feel we’re in quite a strong position.”
A council spokesman said: “At this stage these are simply proposals.”
How is this transfer possible?
School land and its playing fields have traditionally been owned by councils.
However the Education Act 2011 gave the Government the power to seize control of public land allocated for educational use.
It can then transfer ownership to a trustee or governing body of an academy or free school, which is free from council control.
The local authority will receive no money for the transfer.
The King’s School would still have to get planning permission from the council to build on the site.
But if planning permission was rejected by councillors, the school could appeal and the Government would have the final say.
Talking point: Where are new schools needed in Brighton and Hove?
Where would you build them?
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