Future of 'outstanding' Surrey school back in question

Over 500 people have opposed the plans to move Reigate Priory Junior School, raising concerns about traffic, pollution, heritage and the environment.

Surrey County Council wants to move the Reigate school out of its current Grade I-listed home in Priory Park, citing serious concerns about accessibility and claiming it is not suitable for modern education.

The council insists the new site is the best way forward for the ‘outstanding’ school.

The authority plans to build a new five-form junior school at Woodhatch Place, its own headquarters, for 600 students aged from seven to 11.

The campus will include all-weather sports pitches, netball courts and car parking and a new access road, according to council documents.

Plans to relocate the junior school were originally rejected in 2023 after strong opposition from parents terrified of the school run as well as highway safety and traffic.

The authority was forced to put the plans on hold following the collapse of its building and design partner, which meant work on the planning application ceased.

Now, nearly five years after the idea was put to parents, the plans are back on the table.

Members of Surrey County Council’s planning committee will decide on the application on July 23.

Officers have again recommended councillors approve the plans as the report states the need for the school outweighs impacts on highways or the environment.

But, once again, the relocation scheme has triggered a backlash of objections.

Altogether from 2022, there have been 511 objections raised in connection with the proposal – with only 15 expressing support.

Once again, traffic issues and parking were flagged as the main reasons why people did not like the application.

Highway safety was underlined as a major concern with parents not feeling comfortable walking their children to school on busy roads.

Safety on Cockshot Hill and increased pollution has led to calls for alternative site options.

Environmental campaigners and heritage groups also attacked the scheme for potentially destroying habitats, cutting down trees and damaging a locally listed site.

Woodhatch Place including the historic gardens and Woodhatch Lodge is seen as having immense historical value, according to comments.

The scheme arises out of the council’s assessment that Reigate Priory Junior School needs to be relocated from its existing Grade I Listed Building which is deemed no longer suitable for modern learning or accessibility.

Surrey County Council has judged it cannot be reasonably adapted to provide for future needs and an alternative building is needed.

Councillor Jonathan Hulley, Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Lifelong Learning said: “The Department for Education has confirmed that the current Reigate Priory Junior School building is not in line with modern learning requirements.

“After the Planning and Regulatory Committee referred the planning application to Surrey County Council in February 2023, the application remained live.

“Further ecological surveys were carried out in May 2025 and additional documentation submitted.”

“Meeting dates are set in advance by the Planning and Regulatory Committee. In accordance with standard procedure, once a planning application is ready for consideration, it is allocated to the next available Committee meeting.

“It is important to note that the Committee, and the officers who are responsible for working with the Committee, operate independently from the council officers responsible for submitting the application.

“Additional documentation submitted as part of the planning application includes ecological surveys that took place in the spring.

“The Council has also incorporated a range of highways improvements for Cockshot Hill with proposals for the introduction of a 20 miles per hour zone, pavement widening and new crossing provisions, a school shuttle bus proposal and additional drop off capacity for vehicles.”