The Luzern Yeshiva, a Jewish school in Meppel Avenue, Canvey, has been given approval for a building that will accommodate 56 students.
Castle Point Council has agreed on the plans to replace the fire-damaged building with a two-storey building comprising a total of 56 student bed spaces; the previous approval was for 36 beds, including 16 spaces in an existing building, with fewer communal areas than the last scheme. It is also no longer proposed to link to the existing adjacent building.
The maximum overall height of the roof would be 8.6metres over the religious hall. The proposed external materials are red brickwork and rendered panels.
It is understood the fire back in 2019 resulted in damage worth more than £100,000. An investigation found the cause was accidental and was linked to burning candles which were left unattended.
The council planning officer’s report states: “The proposal represents the replacement of a building destroyed by fire to provide additional education and dormitory facilities within an existing school complex on land allocated for school and green belt purposes.
“Detailed consideration of the proposal has determined that the proposal does not represent inappropriate development in the green belt and the design of the building and the level of parking provision is considered acceptable. Additional bicycle parking provision can be secured by condition.
“The site is isolated from nearby residential development and it is not considered that the proposed building and use would have an adverse impact on residential amenity. Whilst the site is at risk of flooding, the impact of such risk is capable of being adequately mitigated.”