A HUGE new block – including an ‘indoor street’, a new training kitchen, catering facilities and a refectory – could be built at Strode College in Street.
Plans have been submitted for the redevelopment of Black A at the facility, which would create a new building of more than 4,000 sq ft.
The scheme has been handed to Somerset Council for consideration by the Department for Education, Willmott Dixon and Strode College and comes after the college was granted funding for improvements by the government to construct a new Black A building off Church Street.
Planning was already underway on the new building, with the application outlining the development.
It said: “A new purpose-designed teaching and dining building replaces the former blocks, creating clearer movement patterns, improved passive supervision, and a more legible sequence of external spaces.
“The external environment is reorganised into a series of social, dining and sensory spaces that support the curriculum and the operational model of the college.
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“A refurbished SEN garden provides a sheltered, calm setting with new seating, allotment beds and a canopy.”
The main site access would be from Church Street, with secure bicycle parking included.
A ‘student street’ – an internal double-height walkway – aims to create a “warm and inviting atmosphere for students, staff and visitors alike”, the plans said.
A ‘student street’ would link all areas of the new building. Picture: Willmott Dixon/Somerset Council
An informal café-style dining area would also be part of the new block, with links to external dining areas and “outdoor social and nature areas”.
Internally, the proposed new Block A includes a Learning Resource Centre, a training restaurant and classrooms.
Also part of the plans is a visual connection of the entrance to the new building to the entrance of Strode Theatre, with “the potential for future physical connection between the Block A lobby and theatre bar area”.
The plans also outline plans for “out-of-hours community access to the training restaurant and bar area”, as well as a drama classroom that could act as a ‘greenroom’ space during community theatre productions.
The scheme will now be considered by Somerset Council, and for more details, and to comment on the plans, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search application reference 2025/2302/FUL.
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New dining areas and a training kitchen are also part of the plans for Strode College. Picture: Willmott Dixon/Somerset Council
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