School Impact Assessment

Geddes has developed a model to assess impacts on primary and secondary schools for proposed residential developments. This modelling approach and its findings have been tested at appeal without challenge from any education authority.

Our model is used to assess the scale of the impact of new pupils on the existing catchment schools. It can be used to develop scenarios to reduce the scale of impact on a school and these measures can become planning obligations.

This approach is also used to clarify and verify a proposal’s education mitigation requirements including accommodation requirements and the cost of any financial contributions is in accord with the test in Circular 3/2012.

Our expertise is also used to challenge whether emerging supplementary guidance proposed education mitigation solutions are compliant with Circular 3/2012.

  • Our approach reduced the cost of the education planning obligation from £3.5M to less than £100,000 and resulted in the Council abandoning its approved supplementary guidance
  • Our impact assessment led to the Council agreeing that a new primary school was not required and an extension to the existing catchment school was adequate mitigation
  • Our modelling confirmed for several sites in West Lothian that there is education capacity to allow development to proceed
Assessing school catchments and roll projections
Assessing catchment areas
Assessing school capacities against allocated housing

The Geddes Way

Since its formation in 2007, the Directors of Geddes Consulting have developed a particular approach to undertaking work for our clients. This has become known as the ‘Geddes Way’ and underpins our service to our clients.

The ‘Geddes Way’ describes an evidence led approach to demonstrating compliance with planning policies. It highlights our wish to explain the significance of the impacts arising to a planning authority and allow evidence to be properly interrogated.

It also describes our systematic and consistent approach to undertaking our commissioned work, ensuring that the full range of issues has been properly and thoroughly dealt with.

It also indicates that through our QA system, the advice provided is from the company and not just an individual in the company.

  • Our up front approach is designed to identify and address project issues
  • Our approach adds value to commissioned work, drawing upon the expertise and experience of all our team
  • Our approach increases the prospects of a site being allocated or securing planning consent