Plans have been submitted to Stafford Borough Council to turn the Grade II listed Seighford Hall Barn into a primary school for up to 36 pupils aged four to 11, all with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The application points to a real and growing need for specialist provision in the area. Marshlands School in Stafford's Wildwood is already operating well above capacity, and 427 Staffordshire children had to attend SEND schools outside the county in 2025.
If approved, around 20 full-time staff would be employed at the school, with pupils arriving by council minibuses rather than on foot or by public transport.
This is actually a revised application - an earlier attempt was rejected in September over concerns about traffic, parking, the impact on the listed building, and gaps in biodiversity, noise and lighting assessments. Developers have sought to address those issues in the new submission.
The timber-framed barn, which is thought to have formed part of the historic Seighford Hall estate, was partly destroyed by fire during the 20th Century before being restored. Planning documents note it is currently in a deteriorated condition.
Stafford Borough Council will make a decision on the application at a future date.
Source: bbc.co.uk
