| Plans to create additional specialist school places for children with severe and complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Portsmouth have moved a step closer, with the planning application for the proposed redevelopment of the Omega Centre in Southsea now submitted.
The planned expansion of specialist provision forms part of the council’s ongoing response to increasing demand for high‑quality SEND places in the city. If approved, the Omega Centre will become a new campus of the Mary Rose Academy, run by the Solent Academies Trust, providing much‑needed capacity for local families. The new school building proposals now include modern extensions which will provide space for 1 to 1 and small group work for children and young people with the most complex needs, and kitchen and workshop spaces which will enable young people with special educational needs to develop skills that will help them thrive as adults. With these extensions the new buildings will accommodate 76 secondary and post‑16 pupils, an increase from the earlier estimate of 60; helping ensure more young people can access appropriate support within the city. Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children Families and Education said: “I’m really pleased to see this project moving forward, and the submission of the planning application marks another important step toward delivering this much‑needed provision for our city. “Portsmouth has a growing number of children and young people who require specialist support, and this new school will help ensure they receive the right care in the right environment. I’m looking forward to seeing the plans continue to take shape, and to providing additional high‑quality places that will make a real difference to families across Portsmouth.” If approved through the planning process, work on the site is expected to begin in spring 2026, with the new provision anticipated to open to students in autumn 2028. |