Plans have been drawn up for a major development at the Maldon Secondary School, with new teaching blocks and a new sports hall, to allow for an expansion of 300 new places. 

Plume Academy in Maldon, which has sites off Mill Road and Fambridge Road, is proposing the expansion with a new teaching block at its Mill Road Campus site, as well as a three-storey science teaching block and a new sports hall at its Fambridge Road site. 

If agreed, the Mill Road site works are scheduled to commence this Autumn and the construction at the Fambridge Road site, will begin in the Spring next year.

The proposed new sports hall at the Fambridge Road site. (Photo: Essex County Council / BBC 2024)

Plans say the new Mill Road teaching block would be single storey and accommodate a mix of general teaching classrooms and Art studios.

The plans say the new sports hall would provide a four-court sports hall and changing facilities and the proposed science block would be three storeys in height and would accommodate new science and preparation accommodation.

The plans have been drawn up as Essex County Council forecasts a lack of Year Seven places in Maldon as well as "very high levels" of new housing within the Maldon area.

A planning statement says: "The schools' ambition as the education provider of choice for current and prospective students is to do their utmost to ensure they achieve the best possible outcomes across all key stages and appropriate to their ability.

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"Geographically this school is in the correct place to cater for the extra demand and is the only secondary school serving the Maldon area. 

"Expanding Plume Academy will help to ensure that local parents will be able to access a local secondary school and the school of preference for their child.

Plume Academy is a state secondary school for 11-16 year olds, as well as offering a sixth form college. (Photo: Chloe Brewster)

"An expansion to two form entry will give the school the accommodation required to meet the expected demand and will provide a solution to the increased need for local secondary school places. 

"The proposal would result in improved educational facilities on the site and provide a visual enhancement to the area.

"Accordingly, the proposed development would meet the principles of the national planning policy framework and local plan policies."