TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL

NUMERICAL LIST OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS LIKELY TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE MEETING OF THE

Eastern Area Planning Committee at 4.30pm on 3 December 2001 (EAP/01/12/01)

APPL. NO. DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION PAGE NO.

TW/00/02529 Outline (means of access not reserved) – hall, drama wing, laboratory, 2 teaching 1-6 blocks, swimming pool, girls residential wing, kitchen extension, alterations to access, parking and construction of 7 staff dwellings – Bethany School, Curtisden Green,

TW/01/00544 Outline (landscaping and design reserved) – proposed residential development 7-15 comprising 25 houses and garages with new access road – Abattoir, Brewer Street,

TW/01/02161 Conversion to 3 dwellings – 16-20 Moor Stores, The Moor,

TW/01/01907 Outline (means of access and siting not reserved) B1 light industrial/office units – 21-25 Bassetts Farm Cold Stores, Goudhurst Road,

TW/01/01848 Change of use of agricultural building to two stables and erection of hay barn and 26-28 sand school – Swigs Hole Farm, Maidstone Road, HORSMONDEN

TW/01/00915 Conversion of oast to 2 dwellings with attached garages (revised scheme – 29-32 TW/97/01505 refers) – Sandhurst Bridge Farm, Road,

TW/01/01438 Erection of agricultural building – 33-36 Twyssenden Manor, Priors Heath, GOUDHURST - E1 -

EASTERN AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF PLANNING AND BUILDING CONTROL SERVICES

3 DECEMBER 2001

PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

APPLICANTS’ NAME T.P. REF. LOCATION BRIEF PARTICULARS AGENTS’ NAME - AGENTS’ OR APPLICANTS’ ADDRESS DATE VALID NAT. GRID REF. DATE OF APPLICATION

BETHANY SCHOOL TW/00/02529 Bethany School Ltd Outline (means of access and (c/o Marshall Haines Barrow Curtisden Green siting not reserved) – Hall, drama The Carriage House GOUDHURST wing, laboratory, 2 teaching Peper Harow GO blocks, swimming pool, girls Godalming residential wing, kitchen Surrey extension, alterations to access GU8 6BG) and parking

18/12/200 739750/403000 18/12/00

Category - Planning D Highways D ______

DESCRIPTION

This outline application is for a Masterplan for the School’s future development over a ten year period. The School intends to proceed with a phased programme of work over this period.

The Background

The strategy behind the Masterplan has a number of issues which were identified within a development appraisal commissioned in 1996. The key issues of this strategy are:-

(1) To provide adequate modern facilities to address the requirements of the curriculum.

(2) To address the issue of clustering and zoning school activities within the site in order to improve efficiency.

(3) To improve pupil/staff safety and security.

(4) To remove temporary accommodation.

(5) To anticipate future requirements and to adopt a coherant strategic plan to provide future buildings on the site.

(6) To reduce running and other costs.

(7) To increase community benefits through dual use of facilities.

(8) To improve landscaping and architectural quality.

(9) To reduce traffic and parking congestion.

Arising from this appraisal the current Masterplan has been developed setting the strategy for the rationalisation of the School site as well as anticipating new buildings required over the next ten years. The key aim is to provide a safer, more efficient teaching environment within a more compact site arrangement. - E2 -

It is stated that pupil numbers will not rise within the foreseeable future.

Issues to be addressed by the Masterplan

(1) Security and safety. The School’s site is spread across Curtisden Green, requiring pupils to walk on the public highway, often after dark. This situation is particularly pertinent to the music block, situated in the former Curtisden Green Primary School building, the girl’s residential wing at Old Poplars, and the Chapel, currently used for school assembly. This latter is of insufficient size to cater for a full school assembly.

Proposal: Although the music block stays in its current location, Old Poplars is to ultimately be replaced by a new dormitory block within the main school campus, with the existing building being reused as teacher living accommodation. A new assembly hall within the main campus is also proposed on the site of the existing open air swimming pool.

(2) Existing kitchens are in need of renovation or replacement. Existing dining facilities are limited in size.

Proposal: The old gymnasium at the southern edge of the school group will be converted into a new dining facility and will be extended to provide kitchen facilities.

(3) The existing open air swimming pool is deteriorating and unsatisfactory. Major renovation or complete replacement is required. Changing facilities are also poor.

Proposal: A new open air pool is proposed adjoining the new Sports Hall and Squash courts at the western edge of the campus. This may be covered in due course. Detailed consent has recently been granted for new indoor/outdoor changing rooms adjacent under TW/01/00088. This actually forms part of Phase 1 of the School’s development proposals.

(4) Temporary buildings. The school relies on a number of timber framed buildings housing laboratories, library and drama facilities. The library is poorly insulated and lit.

Proposal: Laboratories are proposed to be replaced in a permanent building to the rear of the proposed assembly hall forming the southern side part of a cloistered quadrangle with a recent teaching block on the west side, and a new teaching block to the north with the possibility of a further block on the east side.

The south wing of Kendon House has already been granted consent to be converted into a new library under TW/00/02528. This also forms part of the first phase of the school’s development. It formerly housed sports changing facilities.

A new drama facility is to be housed in a two storey block adjacent to the assembly hall.

(5) Dormitories. Both Kendon House and Pengelly House require upgrading. The former can incorporate existing kitchen facilities and include staff accommodation.

(6) Additional teaching facilities are required in the near future.

Proposal: See 4 above. New teaching blocks envisaged as part of this quadrangle.

(7) Traffic and parking. The school operates a mini bus system catering for two thirds of the day pupils to arrive and depart each day. Staff car parking mostly takes place on Jarvis Lane.

Proposal: A group of existing garages at the southern end of the school are to be replaced by a new car park incorporating a new access/exit onto Jarvis Lane. Adjacent tennis courts can be used as overspill parking when required, i.e. to cater for school functions in the nearby Assembly Hall.

(8) Maintenance facilities are located both within the main campus and also at a separate location at the southern edge of the school playing fields. Security of the latter is a concern, and its appearance is also poor.

Proposal: Improve the existing maintenance facilities within the campus. - E3 -

The school own a number of residential properties at Curtisden Green. Originally this application included proposals for a total of seven new staff dwellings across the school site. Little justification had been submitted with the application and this part of the proposal has now been taken out of this current proposal completely.

RELEVANT HISTORY

TW/75/0008 - Outline. Five staff dwellings. Refused 11/06/75.

TW/76/0058 - Outline. Two staff dwellings. Approved 14/05/76.

TW/76/0943 - Re