Pickles announces relaxation of free school conversion rights

The new rights will allow free schools to open in "almost any building" for a year, which the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said would allow them extra time to secure permanent planning permission to allow them to remain in the buildings.

Under existing rules, planning applications to move free schools into buildings that are earmarked for school use but not currently used as schools can take up to a year. The DCLG said the new measures will remove existing concerns that schools may not be able to open up in time.

The DCLG said it will also allow new free schools will also be able to open permanently in a wider range of buildings, such as offices and hotels, with the introduction of an easier, more streamlined approval process. The new measure will require local planning authorities to carry out only a limited assessment that will consider noise and traffic issues.

“It is vital that free schools can plan with confidence to be able to open at the start of the academic year and these new planning measures will provide that certainty for both schools and parents," said Pickles.

“We want to make sure every child has the opportunity to benefit from a good education and by streamlining the planning permission process we can ensure new schools can open, good schools can expand and all state-funded schools can improve their facilities,” he said.

“I want to make it as easy as possible for free school proposers not only to find buildings but move into them," said Education Secretary Michael Gove. “So I am delighted that we are cutting the red tape that delays free schools from securing a permanent home."

“Enabling free schools to move into their preferred site more quickly will mean they can concentrate on raising standards and providing parents with an excellent school place for their child,” Gove said.