F South Kilworth C of E School Appx B I
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APPENDIX B F DEVELOPMENT CONTROL AND REGULATORY BOARD 18 TH MARCH 2010 REPORT OF THE COUNTY SOLICITOR APPLICATION UNDER REGULATION 3 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING GENERAL REGULATIONS PART A – SUMMARY REPORT APPLICATION NO. & DATE: 2010/0029/03 – 7th January 2010 (LCC Ref No 2010/L173/03) PROPOSAL: Erection of demountable timber classroom, South Kilworth Church of England Primary School LOCATION: Walcote Road, South Kilworth (Harborough District) APPLICANT: Leicestershire County Council MAIN ISSUES: Design and materials of construction, energy efficiency, highway safety and parking provision, impacts on the locality, potential for increase in pupil numbers, and any overriding need. RECOMMENDATION: REFUSE, for reason of design and materials, potential for growth and over-development, and consequent unsustainable travel patterns, contrary to national guidance and relevant policies of the Local Plan. Circulation Under Sensitive Issues Procedures Mr. G. A. Hart CC Officer to Contact Mr. Chris Noakes Tel: 0116 305 7053 E-Mail [email protected] 2 2010/0029/03 (2010/L173/03) - continued PART B – MAIN REPORT Background 1. South Kilworth C of E Primary School is situated on the north-west edge of the village, on the north side of Walcote Road, where this lane leads out of the village through open countryside. The original school house dates from 1851 and occupies an attractive ‘period’ structure with distinctive features such as feature brickwork (albeit not listed). Various extensions and alterations have been added over the years including classroom/hall extensions, new cloakrooms and toilets in recent years (see below). The school serves the local village and the surrounding rural catchment area in the south of the County. 2. Currently there are 69 pupils at the school aged between 4-10 years of age, and numbers of pupil within the catchment area are expected to remain constant over the next 5 years between 65-70 pupils. These are accommodated in the main school buildings in two main groups; Key Stage 1 pupils (i.e. inclusive of the 4+ foundation year, as well as 5+ and 6+ pupils) occupy 33 sq m of linked teaching space in the northern block; whilst Key Stage 2 pupils (i.e. 8+, 9+ and 10+) use some 34 sq. m. of teaching space in the larger southern building. 3. In addition, the school includes IT suite, toilets and cloaks, staff and offices (at first floor level of the school house) and a large area dedicated to library room. It is understood that present staffing levels include the Headteacher, 2 full-time teachers, 3 ancillary teaching staff, secretary, and incidental dinner and cleaning staff. Some 7 staff members are on site during the average teaching day. 4. At present the school has an ‘official’ capacity for up to 70 pupils (i.e. entry PAL of 10 pupils x 7 year groups). This capacity was increased from 50 pupils (i.e. entry PAL of 7 pupils x 7 years) in 2005/06, as a result of significant extensions carried out then (see below), also provided to accommodate additional pupil nos on site, over and above the designated capacity of the School at the time. 5. Over the last year or so, the Head has been in discussion with officers of Children and Young People's Service (CYPS) Department regarding the provision of additional accommodation at the School, to provide supplementary teaching area for separate Foundation Year (4+) base. In the context of the existing facilities and floorspace on site, the School has been advised that it does not have a ‘basic’ need for such development and it could not be funded by the Education Authority. Subsequently there was discussion about a small ‘withdrawal’ space for individual/small group teaching and extra curriculum activities such a music lessons. 6. In the event, the School has decided to progress with a ‘self-funded’ proJect from devolved budget to fund a free standing, self-contained Foundation Year base, to meet the demands of the curriculum for these youngest pupils. This would enable the 4+ pupils to be taught separately from the Year 1 base (currently 34 pupils), and serve the anticipated 10 pupils Joining the Foundation Year in Autumn 2010. DC®. BOARD 18/03/2010 3 2010/0029/03 (2010/L173/03) - continued DC®. BOARD 18/03/2010 4 2010/0029/03 (2010/L173/03) - continued 7. The school has indicated that there is no intention to increase the overall number of pupils above the existing 70 limit in the ‘planned admissions number’ (PAN). However, the proposed teaching base will generate an additional 31 places that could be used for general teaching and as a consequence generate surplus places either at South Kilworth or at surrounding schools. The forecast for September 2010 is 68 pupils this additional accommodation could therefore generate surplus places of 33%. The Local Authority is expected by Central Government to reduce surplus places. History of Proposals 8. There have been a number of individual proposals and developments at the school over the last 25 years or so. These include: • Change of use of existing school house into educational facilities (ref. no 1983/1478/03); • Construction of entrance porch (ref. no. 1997/0975/03); • Erection of single storey extensions (to provide additional classrooms, cloaks, and entrance ramp (ref. no. 2005/0173/03); • Extension to toilet facilities (western block) (ref. no. 2009/0560/03). 9. As explained above, the maJor extensions in 2005-06 provided significant additions to the teaching space at the School, in order to accommodate additional pupils at that time. A new teaching area of some 21 sq. m. was added to the Year 1 base in the western building, whilst a large dual-use classroom/hall of 59 sq. m. was added to the eastern building. All of the works have now been carried out, providing attractive brick built extensions with steeply pitched slate roofs and matching feature brickwork. They complement the original attractive school buildings in a particularly pleasing manner. Description of Proposal 10. The existing school occupies steeply pitched, red brick buildings close to the road frontage of Walcote Road, with a low metal railing fence along the street frontage. The school playing field extends to the north-west side, providing an open area alongside the adJacent open countryside. The main hard playground is situated between the school buildings and the playing fields, with some play equipment and a gated access onto the highway. There is a steep embankment at the rear of the school site covered with mature trees, retaining the higher ground on this side and rising well above the roofs of the school itself. 11. The school wishes to erect a new timber classroom on a small nature garden at the rear, on an area that is enclosed by the main school at the front and the steep embankment at the rear. This ground slopes down from the foot of the bank towards the school field and is enclosed by low railing fence and retaining wall. It would form a separate teaching base for 4+ foundation pupils (expected to be at 10 pupils in Autumn 2010). DC®. BOARD 18/03/2010 5 2010/0029/03 (2010/L173/03) - continued 12. The building would measure 9m long x 7m wide x 4.4m high, with a pitched roof overlapping by 0.5m at eaves level. It would contain toilet facilities, sinks/wet areas and individual heating system. It is intended to provide a decked veranda measuring 2m deep at the front of the building and a new ramped entrance from the existing school ground (albeit no details are provided). The building would be constructed in cedar wood shiplap boarding with shingle tiled roof. 13. The proposed position of the building indicates that it would be located tightly under the steep embankment around this side of the site, which would appear to require the removal of soils, etc to provide a level base and consequential retaining of the adJacent embankment itself. A number of small self-set trees would have to be cleared from the site, which also contains a pond area. 14. Vehicular access to the school site is available via a double gate into the playground area, to the west side of the school buildings. At the time of the previous extensions (approved 2006) a requirements was imposed for the provision of 2 off-street car parking spaces, which were subsequently identified on part of the playground inside this gate. The current application relies on the retention of these spaces, as previously conditioned. However, it seems likely that the identified area is rarely, if ever, used for off-street parking, especially now that a newly erected fenced area has been erected. 15. The school relies largely on use of a lay-by at the western end of the road frontage, which can accommodate about 7 private cars, and other on-street parking. Previously, it is understood that staff parking took place on the grass verge opposite the school, but this was abandoned for road safety reasons. There are residential properties in the converted farm buildings that front this southern side of Walcote Road and which have individual vehicular accesses on the road. 16. The supporting statement explains that ‘the development will significantly improve the capacity, quality and range of educational opportunities offered at this popular community school’. In addition, the applicant has stated that the proposed classroom would provide a new base for the 4+ class, and that the total number of pupils at the school would not be increased as a result. The additional space would ease facilities within the current Year 1 base (reducing numbers from 34 to around 24 in total).