A new secondary school in Bristol has been delayed by a year after the Environment Agency raised concerns about flooding. Oasis Temple Quarter, which gained planning approval in August and was due to open in 2021, will now have its opening postponed while the application is referred to the government.
The city council confirmed the application has been called in by the Secretary of State, a process that must be resolved before construction can proceed. A council spokesperson said: “While we wait for the call-in process to be resolved, we are in discussion with established schools and are confident there will be capacity for next September.”
Parents have expressed alarm over the potential shortfall of secondary school places. Jenny Grinstead, whose son was due to start at the school, warned of a “huge shortfall for Bristol’s 2021 intake”. She added: “If he does get into an east Bristol school there is a real risk that that school could be overcrowded… this is the culmination of multiple years of delays and failures.”
Oasis Community Learning said the approval was a milestone despite the flooding issues, and reiterated its commitment to building the school. The facility, located beside the Feeder Canal, is seen as crucial to easing a shortage of about 200 secondary places in the city.
