Iceni Projects last night secured a resolution to grant planning permission from Epping Forest District Council for the development of a state of the art Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) School, for the National Autistic Society, to be delivered by the Anderson Foundation.

Following officers recommendation for approval, the application received overwhelming support from the District Development Control Committee after being recommended for approval last Wednesday at Area Planning Committee South.

The development will be sited on the disused former Tottenham Hotspur FC training ground on Luxborough Lane, Chigwell. It was historically a landfill site and is sited within the Metropolitan Green Belt.

As well as the school, suitable for up to 128 pupils aged 4-19, the development will include 60 dwellings. Those houses, together with contributions from the Anderson Foundation, will fund the provision of the essential school facility.

Paul Webster, Director at Iceni Projects said: “This is a fantastic result, fuelled by widespread recognition of the significant shortfall in Essex of school places for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The overwhelming support, and virtual absence of local objection, for such a major development in the Green Belt is testament to the hard work undertaken by the consultant team; together with the extent of meaningful, quality dialogue with Epping Forest District council and community groups.”