Planners at Greenwich Council have backed a new scheme to revamp Charlton Park Academy.

The academy put forward plans to bulldoze the existing specialist school building in place of new modern features.

The plans, to demolish a building known as Rainbow House for bigger, modern facilities, have been backed by council officers.

Officers said: “Charlton Park Academy, as a SEN school, provides a valuable service for the local community by providing education for vulnerable children and young adults who cannot be accommodated in conventional or unspecialised schools, with a focus on complex, low incidence disabilities.

They said: “The proposed development is considered to be acceptable in land use terms, and the redevelopment of Rainbow House would enhance the educational offer within the borough, by providing modern learning facilities and enhanced sleeping facilities for children with special educational needs.”

The school said its current setup has become “no longer fit-for purpose and have aged beyond being reasonably maintained”.

In their planning statement, submitted last year, the school said: “The key benefits of the scheme include the demolition of tired and not-fit-for-purpose education building and an important upgrade in the provision of a much-needed Special Education Needs and Disability facility with all modern facilities and support providing essential enhancements to the quality of SEND provision whilst at Charlton Park Academy.”

The plans will have the existing school building demolished and a two-storey replacement with sleeping accommodation for staff and students, along with kitchen and living areas.

The plans will be debated at a planning meeting on Tuesday, June 4, at Woolwich Town Hall.