This project involved securing a school planning permit for the use of land for a secondary school within a General Residential Zone, together with a signage planning permit and alteration of access to a Road Zone, Category 1. The process was supported through coordinated town planning and design services to ensure the proposal responded appropriately to both planning controls and the existing built form.
The site has evolved significantly over time. Once used as a reception venue, hosting events and gatherings, it is now home to Saints College, a diverse learning environment supporting students in a more flexible and community-focused setting. That transition from hospitality venue to education facility required more than just a change in name. It required a carefully prepared planning permit application, informed by an integrated planning and design review of how the land would function on a daily basis.
In a General Residential Zone, a secondary school is a permit-required use. Council’s assessment centred on traffic movement, student safety, neighbourhood amenity and how the site would operate during peak periods. Although the buildings were already established, the shift to a daily school environment meant examining pick-up and drop-off arrangements, staff parking allocation, outdoor activity areas and hours of operation. Aligning these operational needs with a practical site layout was a key part of the town planning and design services provided.
The proposal also required a signage planning permit to allow appropriate identification signage. In residential areas, signage must remain modest and proportionate. The endorsed plans ensured that Saints College could be visible and accessible to families without creating visual clutter. Alteration of access to a Road Zone, Category 1 triggered referral to the relevant road authority. Arterial roads are managed for safety and traffic efficiency, so access design needed to demonstrate safe vehicle entry and exit, clear sight lines and orderly movement during school peak times.
Through structured planning permit assistance, coordinated planning permit services and integrated town planning and design input, the application addressed council and referral authority concerns early in the process. For community organisations considering a similar change of use, early planning permit assistance can clarify requirements and reduce uncertainty. Where education uses are proposed in residential areas, a well-prepared planning and design strategy can make the pathway to approval considerably smoother.
Photo credit: Saints College Homepage
