Hartford CE High School Planning Document – Design and Access Statement APRIL 2018 with PLANNING DOCUMENT – DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT - HARTFORD CE HIGH SCHOOL 3 CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Development Brief 5 3.0 Site Analysis And Context Appraisal 6 4.0 Design Statement 8 5.0 Access Strategy 24 SECTION TITLE 4 PLANNING DOCUMENT – DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT - HARTFORD CE HIGH SCHOOL 1.0 INTRODUCTION This Design and Access Statement has been prepared by Sheppard Robson on behalf of Wates Construction. Additional input has been provided by Ares Landscape Architects. It accompanies and supports the planning application for Hartford CE High School. The statement explains how the proposed development is a suitable response to the site and its setting, and demonstrates that it can be adequately accessed by prospective users. This document accompanies the planning application for Hartford CE High School, Chester Road, Hartford, Northwich, CW8 1LH for the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). It is intended to supplement the information required by Cheshire West and Chester Council by summarising the functional requirements of the brief, together with the architect’s interpretation of the site context and the response to it. Section 42 of 2004 Town and Country Planning Act substituted the Section 62 of the 1990 Act so as to Northwich provide a statement covering design concepts, principle and access issues submitted with an application for planning permission. It states that one statement should cover both design and access, allowing applicants to demonstrate an integrated design approach that would deliver exclusive design and address a full range of access requirements throughout the design process. Northwich Hartford High School Hartford CE High School PLANNING DOCUMENT – DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT - HARTFORD CE HIGH SCHOOL 5 2.0 DEVELOPMENT BRIEF Hartford CE High School is an existing school in Northwich, Liverpool, of around 1,050 pupils capacity for years 7 to 11. Hartford CE High School is a mixed gender 11-16 comprehensive school that specialises in languages and sports. Hartford CE High School ethos is based on the teachings of the Church of England. Collective worship, though not mandatory, is also based on the practice of the Church of England. The school is currently undersubscribed with 902 students on roll. The school expects the pupil numbers to further increase due to a number of extensive new housing developments currently being constructed in the local area. D A The scheme is a Partial School Project, with the new build element replacing a existing block on site that E have been identified for subsequent demolition. The block to be replaced is block D. The new block will house B catering facilities, LRC and a sports hall, as well as a variety of teaching facilities. The school will remain in occupation of all blocks during the construction of the new build element; following C completion, the existing block that has been identified for replacement, will be demolished and works will be undertaken to make good the affected external areas. The other blocks on site will continue to provide an education environment. The proposal will locate the new build element closer to the retained block A, B and C. This creates a better link between the retained buildings and to provide a coherent and efficiently organised composition and enhanced wayfinding. Locating the new school building closer to the existing accommodation will positively contribute to the school ethos and give the school an opportunity to enhance provision and raise standards still further. 2.1 Project’s Origin The scheme has been procured via the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Contractors Framework, with Hartford CE High School selected as the sample scheme for the batch, as part of the second wave of the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP2). Wates Construction are the main contractor with all consultants employed by Wates Construction. 2.2 Client/ Project Aspirations Hartford CE High School Aerial View As the majority of the school accommodation is dispersed from each other with buildings being located at different extremes of the site the new build will enable the majority of the buildings to be located closer Retained Buildings together and give the school a campus feel, this will also provide a safe and secure learning environment to support staff and students in maintaining high levels of performance. Demolished Buildings 6 PLANNING DOCUMENT – DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT - HARTFORD CE HIGH SCHOOL 3.0 SITE ANALYSIS AND CONTEXT APPRAISAL 3.1 Site and Immediate Surroundings The total site area is 11.6 Hectares, the teaching accommodation occupies circa 25% of the site, and which comprises of five buildings, 3nr form the ‘West Campus’ and the remaining 2nr form the ‘East Campus’. There is no change to existing site boundary for the development. The context surrounding the site consists of a number of educational facilities, the closest being Mid-Cheshire College (located directly North of the site), Hartford Manor Community Primary, Cloughwood Academy, St. Wilfred’s Catholic Primary School and St. Nicholas Catholic Primary School – all of which make use of Hartford High School’s extensive sports facilities. Beyond this the area is occupied by a high proportion of residential properties. The River Weaver runs in close proximity to the East boundary of the site and local wildlife sites Weaver Valley, Newbridge Pool and Greenbank Wood are generally located adjacent to the East and South boundaries. 3.2 Site Levels The site for the replacement block is almost entirely level with a level change on average of 100mm. This has allowed a clear strategy for pedestrian movement and minimal restriction in terms of accessibility. The open and level nature of the site also allows views to the Peaks hand Jodrell Bank from upper storeys. 3.3 Trees An Ecological Appraisal has been carried out for all flora and fauna on site. This has also listed tree species present on site. A high number of Beech, Red Oak and Wild Cherry trees are present on site, contributing a major role in the mature landscape setting. A band of trees to the South-West separates the new building from the boundary fence. 3.4 Site Constraints The site for the proposed new block is adjacent an area of residential housing to the south along Carriage Drive. School Secure Line The school has an extensive provision of sports facilities that occupies an estimated 75% of the school site. Located between the existing East and West campus is a 3G all-weather sports pitch, hard standing tennis and an inflatable rigid dome covering tennis courts. To the west of the site a ‘bund’ of existing trees along boundary offers a visual and acoustic separation between. In a addition there is a pedestrian only access to the site from Carriage Drive (to the south west) which bisects the school campus that is used by external parents and pupils of Hartford Manor Primary School. This entrance is managed by the school and is open for an hour before and after school. The main entrance to the school is proposed to remain within the existing West campus large block. 3.5 Site Opportunities Locating the new building on the west campus, improves the existing ‘split school site’ conditions which currently impact travel time between classes for students and staff. As well as improving time-table efficiency, the proposed single site will also enhance ease of supervision and offer an overall school site more able to adapt to future curriculum changes through improved flexibility of potential departmental locations across both large teaching blocks. The new building will also contain facilities such as LRC and dining. The new building will have a 3rd party entrance for sports and the block proposes to provide a 4-court sports which provide a better connection to the adjacent to the existing outdoor sport amenities and significantly Looking North at the existing West campus. improving the school’s existing indoor sports provisions. PLANNING DOCUMENT – DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT - HARTFORD CE HIGH SCHOOL 7 The chosen position of the new teaching block, established site lines and movement routes are retained, whilst 3.7 Site History and Existing Buildings enhancing the existing character of the school site. The two existing large school blocks are currently 400 metres apart, which is due to the school originally being 3.6 Movement Patterns a separate boys’ and girls’ school that became co-educational in 1978. As the New Build will co-exist alongside the retained block, the design needs to reflect this by being long lasting and maintainable. There are 4 main access points to Hartford High School. Three feed off Carriage Drive (to the North); and provide both vehicular and pedestrian access to the School. To the South-West there is a pedestrian access None of the buildings on site are listed and the site does not sit within a conservation area. There are no known point, however this is not currently used by the school. TPOs or environmental designations on site and the site is not within a flood risk zone. The existing nature of the site layout is based on a split campus with students walking between the ‘West’ The west campus consists of a storey large teaching block (A) and 2 small adjacent single storey buildings and the East’ campuses. The new block will consolidate the movement patterns to the West campus with the (B & C), which house the art and music departments. The East campus consists of a 3 storey large teaching exception the ROSLA block which will still be used for lessons. blocks and one small adjacent two storey building, which houses part of the science department, as well as a number of administrative functions for the school.