Planning Statement
Heathcote Farm
Academy
Land Adjacent to Harbury Lane
Warwick
Grid Reference: E 430750, N 263180
Prepared on Behalf of Warwickshire County Council
April 2016 Rev - Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
PROPOSED PROVISION TWO FORM OF ENTRY PRIMARY SCHOOL
(HEATHCOTE FARM ACADEMY) AT LAND ADJACENT
TO HARBURY LANE, WARWICK PLANNING STATEMENT
This Report has been prepared by Lungfish Architects Ltd partly based on information obtained from third party agencies. Lungfish Architects Ltd cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies in this information.
This report has been prepared for the Client for their sole and specific use. No liability or warranty shall be extended to others in respect of the use of this report without the written agreement of Lungfish Architects Ltd.
Revision Author Checked Issued AJH SSB 15-04-2016
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Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
CONTENTS
Introduction Need Description of the Site and Proposed Development Planning Policy Considerations Summary and Conclusions
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Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
Introduction
This Planning Statement has been prepared to support the development of a two form of entry (2FE) school with nursery and capacity for up to 420 pupils and a 26 nursery attendees, Heathcote Farm Academy. The development will be completed over two phases and will initially accommodate 210 pupils with capacity for a 26 place nursery. The remaining accommodation required to support the additional 210 pupils will be developed at a later date.
The site address is Heathcote Farm Academy, Land adjacent to Harbury Lane, Leamington Spa. National Grid Reference is E 430750, N 263180.
The site is located adjacent to a new road to the south of Harbury Lane, with vehicular access from this road via spur onto the site. The school is situated to the south west of Royal Leamington Spa town centre. The development site area is approximately 2061msq (2.061ha) and the site in ownership by the applicant (Warwick County Council) is 25499msq (2.5499Ha).
The site known as Lower Heathcote Farm, is existing fallow farm land, within an area that is currently under development as housing, community and employment.
Aerial view of Heathcote Farm Site (Courtesy of Google)
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Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
Outline planning approval was granted for this development in September 2014 to developer Gallagher Estates, Warwickshire County Council Planning Reference; W/14/0661 – and is described as ‘Residential development up to a maximum of 785 dwellings; Provision of three points of access – one from Europa Way and two access points to Harbury Lane; A mixed use community hub/local centre to include retail development (Class A1 to A5 inclusive) and community buildings (Class D1); Potential provision of a primary school; Comprehensive green infrastructure, continuous open space network and multi-functional open space, including children's play space, potential open space for sport, informal open space and SUDS; Potential provision of allotments; Potential footpaths and cycle ways; Foul and surface water drainage infrastructure, including attenuation ponds; Ancillary infrastructure and ground remodelling. (Outline application including details of access).
The School is to be funded by Section 106 Agreement monies attributed to the above planning application, towards the cost of providing the land and buildings for education provision.
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Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
Need
With the granting of planning permission and commencement of housing development to the southern sites around Warwick and Leamington Spa it is essential that the necessary local infrastructure is put in place to cater for new residents moving in to newly completed housing stock.
Within the Revised Development Strategy Booklet issued by Warwick District Council in June 2013 Section 5, Strategic Development Sites and Infrastructure, the South of Warwick and Whitnash (South of Leamington Spa) are considered;
‘Education: This scale of development will require significant new education provision. The County Council are responsible for ensuring that sufficient school places are available for all age groups to meet the needs of new communities. To do this, they work on the basis that there will be 3.72 pupils per school year per 100 households. This means there is a need to provide capacity (either onsite or through off site contributions) for
• Early Years: 150 pupils.
• Primary schools: 965 pupils. Onsite provision of 1x2 Form Entry Primary School and 2x1 Form Entry Primary School. The balance to be provided at existing schools with capacity.
• Secondary Education: 690 pupils – to be provided either through onsite provision of a new school or through expansion of existing schools.
• 6th Form School: 140 pupils – to be provided either in conjunction with a new secondary school or through the expansion of existing schools.
• Special Needs Provision (Primary): 18 pupils. To be provided by contributions to existing schools.
• Special Needs Provision (Secondary): 22 pupils. To be provided by contributions to existing schools.
The requirement to deliver a primary school for Sept 2017 is evidenced by the above data, also it is worthy of note that the area on the northern side of Harbury Lane as previously approved residential development (Ref W/13/0607) is also nearing completion with the newly developed dwellings being occupied.
The development of the wider area is in accordance with the Revised Development Strategy Booklet, Map 3 which indicates the site as a primary school.
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Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
Proposed Site Plan from Developer of Heathcote Farm School site
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Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
Description of the Site and Proposed Development
The site which is to be the Heathcote Farm Academy is currently arable farm land, however allocated as D1 Educational Use (under the Use Class Order 2015) within the Gallagher Estates outline planning approval. The site is surrounded by arable farm land, with change of use to residential use in above described detailed planning approvals. We understand construction is due to commence imminently on the houses. The site will be provided with services including power (via new sub-station adjacent to the school site, foul drainage and surface drainage spurs are also provided within the new access road by the Developer). Access to the site is via residential estate roads, and links to these roads will be provided by the residential developer on to Harbury Lane.
A number of options were looked at for the initial feasibility stage, based around the following existing site criteria. These concepts encompassed the following key considerations in firming up the design proposals:
Overall general layout Site topography Scale and massing Vehicular and pedestrian accesses to site Car park provision and vehicular movements Building orientation Sustainable design Development character and identity Proposed housing and relationships with the site boundary Site security Provision of sports pitches Boundary treatments External learning spaces Hard and soft play areas Community access and use of internal spaces within the building
The proposal is to construct a (2FE) school with nursery and capacity for up to 420 pupils and 26 nursery attendees, delivered over two phases. The first phase will accommodate 210 pupils plus a 26 place nursery.
The development is proposed to be of single story construction, and is intended to be a contrast to the proposed housing that will eventually surround it. The use of space on the site and building position, set back form the estate roads to the housing, will give a sense of space and lessen the density of development to the immediate opposing properties. Parking will be provided on site for the use of the school staff, and as the roads leading to the school are not currently allocated parking for the new housing, it is intended that any children making journeys to school via car will be dropped off along these.
Interim Transport Statement and Travel Plan have been completed and are submitted in support of the planning application.
The site is of relatively flat topography, and will be landscaped in order to meet the educational needs to comply with current legislative guidance. The layout has also carefully considered
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Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
current utilities running across the plot, which may be accessed by utility providers in the future (There is a large diameter water main running across the north eastern facing boundary of the site running from south east to north west).
It is not currently known when the second phase of development will be undertaken, although it is envisaged that the local community will utilise the multi-use hall out of school hours from the first opening of the Academy facility.
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Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
Planning Policy Considerations
The proposal has been developed as a result of pre application advice from Warwickshire County Council, and is intended to fully answer concerns and requirements raised at that stage of the design process.
The scheme has been developed in consideration of the National Planning Policy Framework and saved policies from the Warwick District Local Development Scheme and preserved policies therein (published February 2016). The following Planning policies have been particularly considered in the development of the proposals:
. Planning Policy DP1 Layout and Design
. Planning Policy DP2 Amenity
. Planning Policy DP 6 Access
. Planning Policy DP 8 Parking
. Planning Policy DP11 Sustainable drainage
. Planning Policy DP12 Energy Efficiency
. Planning Policy DP13 & DP14
. Planning Policy DP15 Accessible & Inclusion
. Planning Policy SC 4 Supporting Cycling & Recreation Facilities
. Planning Policy SC 13 Open Space & Recreation Improvements
. Planning Policy SC 14 Community Facilities
Also supporting the planning application are the following documents:
- Outline Drainage Design (in compliance with Policy DP 11 Drainage) - Existing and proposed drawings. - Interim School Travel Plan. - Interim School Transport Statement - Flood Risk Assessment (in compliance with Policy DP 11 Drainage) - Preliminary Ecological Appraisal - Design and Access Statement. (Incorporating Sustainability Statement)
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Planning Statement Heathcote Farm Academy
Conclusion
The proposed development for the provision of a new 2 Form Entry Primary School at the Heathcote Farm Site has emerged from a process of engagement meetings between stakeholders. Based on the developed brief and consultation dialogue to date, the initial site analysis and outline design development stages, discussions with the school and the Local Authority, the design requirements for the development were to provide the following:
School buildings that are aspirational, for school bodies that are ambitious Buildings that are of good design quality To deliver to an ambitious programme and to cost Inspire and encourage parents and community to be further involved with the school Offer extended services through its accommodation provision Buildings that are sustainable through their design and construction Buildings that provide a sense of safety and security Direct access Close, strong links between internal spaces and external play areas Clustered learning spaces Break out spaces/group learning Embedded ICT A notion that ‘Every Child Matters’ Create a ‘family environment’, safe spaces for children Be ‘welcoming’ Create spaces for now and offer flexibility for the future Quiet areas Exciting external spaces for learning and play - educational, social and sporting activities.
The design evolution process has maintained some key principles throughout various iterations:
Inclusive accessibility Building orientation should maximise natural daylight and ventilation in the interests of health, well-being and sustainable design. The location of the new school building and external spaces relating to the topography of the site. The development should be visually strong, and relate well on the approach to, and be welcoming into the building. Design of the buildings and selection of materials should provide its own identity in the interests of distinctiveness and sustainability.
We feel that the application of this school has addressed all of the above criteria in an effort to respond to the very clear need for these facilities within the locality of the Lower Heathcote Farm development area.
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