Birmingham school redevelopment plans approved — councillors have given the green light to major works at Baskerville School, Harborne, an 11–19 special school for autistic pupils. Parts of the estate were reported as heavily affected by RAAC, so the scheme replaces compromised accommodation with a new two-storey teaching block, delivered in phases so the school can remain open throughout the works.
Birmingham school redevelopment plans approved: key dates at a glance
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30 September 2025 – Planning permission granted. Committee members approved the Baskerville rebuild, noting the wider context of Birmingham’s “desperate need” for SEND places (this project does not expand roll).
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11 June 2025 – Public consultation. The school published a consultation leaflet and hosted a stakeholder drop-in outlining phasing, access and temporary accommodation.
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Target occupation: The school aims to move into the new block in autumn 2026, subject to programme and phasing.
Why now? RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) findings compromised the functionality of parts of the site, prompting a safety-led rebuild rather than expansion.
What exactly is being built?
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New two-storey teaching block tailored to autism-specific provision, replacing RAAC-affected accommodation.
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Temporary facilities—including a sports hall, reception and toilets—installed first so the school can continue operating during construction.
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Reworked site access and parking with on-site minibus bays and a revised layout to reduce congestion on Fellows Lane at drop-off and pick-up.
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No change to pupil numbers or staffing is planned; this is a safety and suitability rebuild.
The phased programme (what happens when)
From the school’s consultation materials, works are planned in three broad phases, with enabling steps upfront:
1) Enabling & temporary accommodation (autumn 2025)
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Site compound set-up and temporary construction access off Fellows Lane to limit disruption.
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Delivery of temporary sports hall, reception and toilet facilities.
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Clear, signed pupil routes and adjusted entry points while works are live.
2) Main works (late 2025 into 2026)
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Demolish the Voyager building once temporary units are in place.
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Construct the new two-storey block, with autism-friendly design and improved energy performance.
3) Decant & final works (autumn 2026 target)
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Move into the new block; remove temporary structures.
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Demolish the Atas building; complete landscaping and the new minibus/parking scheme.
Throughout, the school intends to remain open, managing movements and timetables to limit sensory overload from noise or visual change—especially important for autistic learners.
What families will notice, term by term
Autumn 2025
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Visible site set-up and temporary buildings arriving.
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Some entrance and parking changes with cordons and signage to keep routines predictable.
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Teaching remains on site.
Spring–Summer 2026
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Main build activity continues.
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Regular updates on noisy-works windows and deliveries; short-term room relocations where needed.
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EHCP reviews, therapies and exams timetabled with construction in mind.
Autumn 2026 (target)
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Decant to the new block.
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Removal of temporary units, final demolitions and landscaping, including the safer on-site minibus layout.
Wider SEND context—what this project isn’t
Birmingham has highlighted pressure on specialist places city-wide. While the approval sits within that “desperate need” context, this Baskerville project does not increase the school’s roll; it secures safe, suitable accommodation for existing provision following RAAC findings. Longer-term capacity planning sits alongside, not within, this build.
For neighbours on Fellows Lane: traffic and construction
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Minibuses move on site rather than stacking on the road, easing pinch points at peak times.
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A temporary construction access to the south of the site separates contractor movements from parent/pupil flows as far as practicable.
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Working hours, deliveries and noise will be controlled through planning conditions and a construction management plan once the contractor is mobilised.
Linked change: boarding provision removed (April 2025)
Separately from the rebuild, Birmingham City Council removed Baskerville’s boarding provision with effect from 1 April 2025, following statutory consultation in 2024. The residential spaces are being repurposed for education; there had been no boarding pupils on roll for many years. The school continues as a day special school while the estate is renewed.
How to stay informed
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School website: look out for a “Building Baskerville” page with regular updates and links to documents.
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Council planning portal / local press: watch for construction management details, traffic notices and milestone reports.
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Parentmail & letters: expect termly briefings on access changes, key dates and any short disruption windows.
Bottom line
With Birmingham school redevelopment plans approved on 30 Sept 2025, Baskerville’s safety-led rebuild starts in autumn 2025, using temporary facilities to keep education on site and targeting occupation in autumn 2026. Families should see safer, modern spaces designed for autistic learners and a traffic plan that brings minibuses onto site, easing Fellows Lane congestion. The project won’t add places, but it will protect and improve the learning environment for pupils who rely on Baskerville’s specialist provision.