School can keep 'amphitheatre' seating area

A West Yorkshire primary school can keep a small "amphitheatre" in its grounds after seeking retrospective planning permission.

Burley Oaks Primary School in Burley in Wharfedale, near Ilkley, created the seating area without permission in 2024, and the space has since been used for outdoor lessons.

It later submitted an application saying the space was a "sustainable way of dealing with the surplus soil" from drainage works on the school playing fields.

Bradford Council planning officers have now confirmed the project could be classed as "permitted development" and did not need full planning permission.

The school's plans said: "We came up with the idea of creating a small 'amphitheatre'-style seating area at the side of the field next to the path, to allow easy access by class groups to use during the day as an outdoor classroom area.

"At no point did the town council or the drain contractors indicate that planning permission would be required for such a feature, so permission was not sought at the time."

There were three letters of support for the works and one letter of objection, which said the seating area saw "frequent use throughout the day; including before, during and after school hours," according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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