Windsor school set to get new timber gazebo

A Windsor school is set to get a new wooden gazebo to help provide learning and recreational opportunities after councillors voted to approve plans.

The hexagonal timber structure will be built at Hilltop First School after a Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council committee gave it the green light.

Located in the school field, the gazebo would allow the school to provide an outdoor learning and recreation space for students.

Officers noted that the structure would result in a minimal loss of open space in the school grounds given the relative size of the planned gazebo.

The report considered by the committee noted: “The gazebo will enable the school to provide outside recreational, learning and sheltered space which would provide for additional facilities to cater the requirements of the students.

“The overall number of pupils would not increase as a result of the proposal.”

It added: “Although the gazebo would result in the loss [of] some existing open space within the school grounds, it is not a significant area, and the gazebo will provide shelter outdoors, which will give greater opportunity to staff and pupils to be outside.”

It was also noted that the single-story nature of the structure and its relative distance from neighbouring properties would not constitute harm to the area in noise, privacy or daylight.

The gazebo as planned would be 5.69m wide, 4.35m deep and 3.32 m tall. It would have a natural timber finish with decking, posts and a roof.

Councillors voted to unanimously approve the application at a meeting of the Windsor and Ascot Development Management Committee.

The applicant also agreed to provide details of biodiversity enhancements - in the form of bat boxes.

Development of the gazebo must start within three years under conditions set out in the report.

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