March 10, 2025  Uncategorized

Exciting Progress as We Approach a Major Milestone

As we move into the next phase of the Earley Springs SEN School project, we’re excited to share a significant update on planning, construction, and investment potential. With the demand for Special Educational Needs (SEN) school places at an all-time high, this project is not just about creating a state-of-the-art facility—it’s about delivering impact, stability, and strong financial growth.

Planning & Approvals: A Major Step Forward

We’re pleased to confirm that planning permission is expected in early April. This is a prior notification for a change of use, which is more of a tick-box exercise rather than a full application. The only potential challenge was highways approval, given our capacity increase from 36 to 61 students. However, after working with one of the best transport consultants in Kent, the highways authority has confirmed they have no objections—a significant milestone that further de-risks the project.

Additionally, we’ve secured the support of the local parish council planning committee, further reinforcing the strength of the development.

On-Site Progress: Capacity & Value Growth

Despite a slight delay in scheduling due to improvements in the layout, construction is moving forward at pace:
✅ Internal strip-out completed – The building is now prepped for the next phase.
✅ New layout finalised – Increasing student capacity from 36 to 61, effectively doubling the school’s value.
✅ Enhanced facilities – Every classroom will feature dedicated sensory rooms, private toilets, and brighter, more engaging spaces, including a library and chill-out zone.
✅ Perimeter security works – School fencing will be installed ahead of the main external works starting in April.
✅ Completion Timeline – The building will be fully completed by the end of May, and the school will be ready to accept students in June 2025.

Investment Security & Opportunity

The increase in capacity and site improvements mean the projected Gross Development Value (GDV) has risen from £4.6M to £8.4M—a major boost in investor security and future returns.

Why this is an incredible investment opportunity:

• First Legal Charge: Investor funds are secured directly against the asset, with no competing borrowings.
• Stable & Government-Backed Revenue: The school will generate income via local authority contracts, ensuring a consistent and reliable funding stream.
• High Returns in a Growing Sector: With Kent County Council spending £500M annually on SEN education, this is a booming market with high demand.
• Refinance Strategy in Place: The project will transition to a long-term commercial refinance with Christies Finance in early 2026, offering investors a clear exit strategy.

A De-Risked Project with Strong Financial Upside

The riskiest part of the project is already behind us—planning, structural changes, and strip-out work are complete. Now, we’re moving into the final phases of fit-out and external works, which is where the true value creation takes place.

If you’d like to see the progress firsthand, we encourage you to book a site tour and explore how this project is shaping up.

📩 Get in Touch | 📍 Schedule a Visit simply email info@willowrivers.com

With planning almost secured and construction on track, this is the perfect time to get involved in a high-demand, high-impact, and high-return investment.

Stay tuned for more updates as we move toward completion!