Redbourn: Plans for SEND café and farm at St Luke's School

The application has been submitted by dn-a ARCHITECTURE on behalf of The Blue Tangerine Federation for a "school training café" and farm to form part of St Luke's School.

A new site map for the school submitted in the plans. (Image: tor&co) Proposals place the new café building at the southern part of the site and an expansion of the existing animal closures in the northern part of the site.

A supporting statement made by the application reads: "Our Training Café and farm development builds on this essential need to support our youngsters into gainful employment."

An illustrative visual of the proposed cafe building. (Image: dn-a ARCHITECTURE) "The proposed café has been designed to meet the very special needs of the school with the educational function at the forefront of its use," the statement added.

"The café will serve as a training and educational facility for students, with the income generated being reinvested in supporting the school’s educational function."

Proposed sections for the cafe. (Image: dn-a ARCHITECTURE)Under the plans, the café will have a kitchen, servery and large seating area, in addition to a covered seating area, an open external plant area on the roof.

St Luke's playing fields currently have an enclosure for animals and the proposals would bring additional enclosures with associated shelters, to a create school farm.

There is also an existing open barn-like structure which is used for "teaching purposes in the summer months" with several smaller sheds and agricultural shelters to support the current livestock.

A new-look farm will be expanded to house a plethora of animals, including sheep, goats, donkeys, cows, alpacas, chickens, turkeys, pigs and hedgehogs.

A landscape overview of the new farmyard. (Image: dn-a ARCHITECTURE) Its key features are a wild area, central pond with natural play features and picnic benches, and the landscaped training café courtyard.

The design and access statement said: "The aim is to deliver a more accessible, enriched and diversified outdoor learning environment, offering more appropriate usability for all student abilities.

"This will be achieved through the expansion of the existing facilities and activities the school currently provides for its students in animal care and horticulture."

Under the plans, the access road into the school's site would be remodelled and extended, with a new dedicated car park for the SEND building.

For sustainability, the lot will feature cycle parking and electrical charging provision.

The proposed site plan including accessibility. (Image: dn-a ARCHITECTURE) New proposals show the vehicular access to the training café and farm is via a private access route within the site from Blackhorse Lane.

New additional parking, including accessible bays, is provided in front of the café and opposite school entrance to accommodate future parking demands.

The application is currently under consultation and is open for public comments until November 18.

To view the entire application go to St Albans City and District Council's planning portal and search 5/2024/1710.