CONTROVERSIAL plans to open a new school in a Gloucestershire village have been withdrawn.

Education provider Belong Learning had unveiled proposals to turn an old youth hostel and former Airbnb in Slimbridge near Dursley into a SEND school.

If approved, the proposed school near Gloucester and Sharpness Canal would have been open for 50 pupils aged 11 to 17.

The hostel - known as Wild Goose Lodge off Kingston Road - had been in use since 1967 but closed in December 2022.

A change of use application to change the site from a hostel to an education facility was submitted to Stroud District Council in August. 

However, plans for the scheme were officially withdrawn on Monday, October 21. 

It comes after a number of concerns had been raised by neighbours, Slimbridge Parish Council and highway officials from Gloucestershire County Council.

The parish council urged applicants to come up with an evacuation plan as a nearby 36MW battery storage unit was approved in April last year.

There were also fears over the use of staff using a local public car park - which was originally installed to help manage tourism in the area.

Meanwhile, highways bosses objected to the application over fears of vehicles passing down the narrow lane.

A spokesperson from Gloucestershire Highways said: “I consider this proposal is not in an appropriate location.

“This will have implications in vehicles including all the taxis trying to pass along this single carriageway lane.”

According to the withdrawn application, 28 full-time jobs would have been created.

Proposed floor plans show spaces for new classrooms, a meeting room, a gym, breakout spaces, medical room and toilets.

The withdrawn application states the plans would have allowed an existing school site in Whaddon to relocate and move to the site in Slimbridge.

A notice on the planning application, reads: “With reference to the above application I can now confirm that further to your request the application has now been withdrawn.”

You can view the withdrawn application quoting S.24/1552/FUL or see here - tinyurl.com/4ka6j9aa

Concerns had been raised over plans to open the school located off Kingston Road in Slimbridge (Image: Belong Learning / SDC)