Design & Access Statement
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Ken Judge & Associates Ltd The Barn, Monument Office, Unit 4, Maldon Road, Woodham Mortimer, CM9 6SN 01245 225577 [email protected] www.kenjudgeltd.co.uk Design & Access Statement Thurrock Rugby Football Club, Long Lane, Grays, Essex. RM16 2QH Applicant: This is a joint application between: 1. Thurrock Rugby Football Club, Long Lane, Grays. RM16 2QH; and 2. SWECET, William Edwards School, Stifford Clays Road, Grays. RM16 3NJ Overview. This statement accompanies a full planning application for a major new development providing new secondary school accommodation at the above address and is to be read in conjunction with drawing numbers 2471/LP, 101, 102, 103, 104, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207 & 208 prepared by Ken Judge & Associates Ltd, the travel assessment and CWMP prepared by ENCON associates, Tree survey and landscaping details prepared by Open Spaces, Flood Risk Assessment prepared by Evans Rivers and Coastal, the Broxap Cycle storage spec sheet and the Euro-guard fence spec sheet. Introduction: The application site is privately owned and comprises of a playing field with three adult sized rugby pitches and a cricket crease. There is also a council owned playing field to the South East of the site, between the application site and Stanford Road (A1306), which contains two adult sized rugby pitches and numerous youth sized rugby pitches. The existing rugby clubhouse was constructed C1979 for TRFC and is located to the West of the application site. It is a combination of two storey and single storey elements. The clubhouse comprises two squash courts, a weight training gym, numerous changing rooms and shower facilities, physio room and treatment area, a lounge area, multi-purpose hall, bar servery, kitchen, cellar and stores and a stand which overlooks the rugby pitches to the East. The area to the West of the building is mainly poor quality hardstanding used for car parking. Vehicular access to the site is via a long driveway which runs parallel with Milford Road and is accessed off Long Lane. The driveway is approximately 5m wide allowing vehicles to pass. Pedestrian access is via the aforementioned access driveway and Long Lane to the North and from the sites Southern pedestrian access gate reached via the footpath along the side of the allotments. This pedestrian pathway continues in two directions; 1. Southerly across the field to Stanford Road (A1013) and; 2. Westerly across King George’s Field to Blackshots Lane (via the Leisure Centre). Bounding the site to the West is the rear service road to numerous dwellings in Springfield Road and their garages. There is a Council Depot and the Athletics Stadium to the South West of the site and Allotments to the South. The remainder of the site is surrounded by open fields. The entire boundary of the site is lined with high security fencing and gates. The site is located within the Metropolitan Green Belt. Planning History. There are in excess of 20 historic applications for the site dating back to 1963. The most relevant and sizeable historic application is noted below: Ref. 10/50149/TTGFUL Description: Two storey extension to provide enhanced changing facilities and gymnasium. Application Permitted on 9th June 2010. Whilst this development has not been implemented it is prudent to note the footprint of the proposed extension approved under this application was 348sq.m giving a total gross floor space for the two storey extension of 696sq.m. It was granted very special circumstances. Description of Development. This is a full planning application for new development, extensions and alterations to Thurrock Rugby Football Club (TRFC) to provide new classrooms, changing facilities, and ancillary accommodation to provide an interim site for Orsett Heath Academy prior to its main building opening (likely 2021), on land directly adjacent to TRFC. The new structure will be two storey and located to the North of the existing structure with a covered walkway link at ground floor level. This will provide a minimum 120 urgently needed secondary school pupil places for September 2019 with a further capacity for another 120 spaces from September 2020. The floor area for the new building will be 577sq.m at each level. Areas of the existing TRFC building will be utilised by the temporary school throughout the day time including the main hall, kitchen and toilet and changing facilities as will the external sports facilities and areas of the hardstanding for playground and car parking. TRFC will continue to use the site for their use which is entirely outside of school hours. Neither use will impact the other in a negative way and would in fact enhance each other’s use of the site linking Sports and Education for future generations. The building which is owned by TRFC will be leased by SWECET (South West Essex Community Education Trust) during school hours (07.30-16.30) and used under agreement by TRFC outside of these hours (evenings and weekends). Site access will remain the same for both uses although the main school building entrance will be separated from the main TRFC building entrance. The existing structure will be minimally extended to provide adequate facilities for the school and the external aesthetics enhanced and softened. The new extensions equate to a total of 122sq.m. The external hardstanding will be resurfaced making it fit for purpose and again enhancing the aesthetic of the site as a whole with a new parking layout, paving, planting and cycle storage. Once the new development ceases to be the interim structure and Orsett Heath Academy is open for pupils (likely 2021), the building will continue to be used by SWECET and TRFC for educational and sports provision in conjunction with Orsett Heath Academy and thus providing a lasting legacy use by enhancing Education, Sport and Recreation as a ‘Thurrock Institute of Sport’. Appearance. The new structure will be constructed as follows: Roof: Flat roof. Walls: Facing brickwork, Timber cladding and monocouche render. Windows: Powder coated aluminium windows. Doors: Powder coated aluminium doors. Boundaries: The existing security fencing will be retained. The existing structure and extensions will be enhanced as follows: Walls: Facing brickwork, Timber cladding and monocouche render. Windows: Powder coated aluminium windows Planning Policy Planning Policy Considerations: NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) The NPPF has two main areas relative to the application that are prudent to note: 1. Paragraph 94. P27. It is important that a sufficient choice of school places is available to meet the needs of existing and new communities. Local planning authorities should take a proactive, positive and collaborative approach to meeting this requirement, and to development that will widen choice in education. They should: a. Give great weight to the need to create, expand or alter schools through the preparation of plans and decisions on applications; and b. Work with promoters, delivery partners and statutory bodies to identify and resolve key planning issues before applications are submitted. 2. Paragraph 134. P40. (Protecting Green Belt land). Green belt serves five purposes; a. to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built areas; b. to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another; c. to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment; d. to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and, e. to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. Policy statement - planning for schools development 2011 This document outlines the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Education’s commitment to support the development of state-funded schools and their delivery through the planning system. It states: The Government is firmly committed to ensuring there is sufficient provision to meet growing demand for state-funded school places, increasing choice and opportunity in state-funded education and raising educational standards. The Government wants to enable new schools to open, good schools to expand and all schools to adapt and improve their facilities. This will allow for more provision and greater diversity in the state-funded school sector to meet both demographic needs and the drive for increased school choice and higher standards. By increasing both the number of school places and the choice of state-funded schools, we can raise educational standards and so transform children’s lives by helping them to reach their full potential. It is the Governments view that the creation and development of state-funded schools is strongly in the national interest and that planning decision-makers can and should support that objective, in a manner consistent with their statutory obligations. This collaborative working would help to ensure that the answer to proposals for the development of state- funded schools should be, wherever possible, ‘yes’. The Government believes that the planning system should operate in a positive manner when dealing with proposals for the creation, expansion and alteration of state-funded schools, and that the following principles should apply with immediate effect: ⁃There should be a presumption in favour of the development of state-funded schools, as expressed in the National Planning Policy Framework. ⁃Local Authorities should give full and thorough consideration to the importance of enabling the development of state-funded schools in their planning decisions. The Secretary of