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Burley Oaks Primary can keep its amphitheatre

Friday, 13 March 2026 17:18

By Chris Young, Local Democracy Reporter

Burley Oaks ampitheatre

A Burley-in-Wharfedale Primary school will be allowed to keep an amphitheatre that was built without planning permission.

In 2024 work to create an outdoor amphitheatre style seating area was carried out at Burley Oaks Primary School in the village, since then it has been used as an outdoor classroom space.

The work was done without planning permission, and last year a retrospective application to retain the seating area was submitted.

The application says it was developed following the installation of drainage works on the school playing fields in August 2024.

The plans say: 'We wanted to find a sustainable way of dealing with the surplus soil, as well as minimising the cost of the project.

We came up with the idea of creating a small ‘amphitheatre’ style seating area at the side of the field next to the path, to allow easy access by class groups to use during the day as an outdoor classroom area.

At no point did the town council or the drain contractors indicate that planning permission would be required for such a feature, so permission was not sought at the time.'

Now Bradford Council planning officers have confirmed that the works can be classed as “permitted development” and do not need full planning permission.

There had been three letters of support for the works and one letter of objection, which said the seating area saw 'Frequent use throughout the day; including before, during and after school hours.'

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