Committee PLANNING COMMITTEE (A) Report Title ST MATTHEW ACADEMY, ST JOSEPH’S VALE SE3 0XX Ward Blackheath Contributors Louise Holland Class PART 1 Date: 1 NOVEMBER 2011 Reg. No. DC/11/76480 Application dated 10.11.2010 and letter dated 5.5.2011 Applicant Hazel McCormack Young LLP on behalf of St Matthew Academy Proposal The construction of a Sports Hall with two storey element, to provide changing room, fitness suite, office, storage and WC facilities. Applicant’s Plan Nos. 1492/001 Rev P1, 002 Rev P1, 005 Rev P2, 010 Rev P3, 015 Rev P3, 016 Rev P1, Design & Access Statement Background Papers (1) Case File LE/405/5/TP (2) Adopted Unitary Development Plan (July 2004) (3) Local Development Framework (May 2007) (4) The London Plan (July 2011) Zoning Adopted UDP - Existing Use 1.0 Property/Site Description 1.1 St Matthews Academy occupies land on both sides of St Joseph’s Vale and is a recently built school which opened in 2008. The Academy provides education for children from nursery up to Year 11 and replaced both St Joseph’s Academy boys secondary school and Our Lady of Lourdes primary school. The school buildings are on the west side of St Joseph’s Vale while games pitches are provided on the east side of the road. The school when built was to accommodate 900 Secondary, 420 Primary and 25 Nursery pupils. The development was carried out in phases, in that the new school building was constructed on the original playing field areas and then replacement sports pitches were laid out when the original school buildings were demolished. 1.2 The school is accommodated in a large building comprising linked elements up to three storeys in height. The Academy has been built to take advantage of the changes in level throughout the site and it has a lower ground floor that cuts into part of the site. 1.3 The building has 2 main spines running east-west, with wings of varying lengths off the north block. The building is punctured by a series of lightwells, voids and courtyards to allow for natural light. 1.4 The north block accommodates the Primary School function at the western end, which has a separate access from the Secondary School. The remainder of the north block provides secondary education facilities, including what was originally the sports hall which has been converted to classrooms and ancillary rooms. 1.5 The south block provides a library, restaurant area, admin offices and the majority of the teaching rooms. The Nursery is also accommodated in the western end of this block and like the Primary School facility, has a dedicated external space, separate from that used by the Secondary School. 1.6 The building has been finished in a modern palette of materials with large expanses of glazing, white render, zinc and timber cladding and galvanised steel sheets. 1.7 Both vehicular and pedestrian access to the Academy is via a single access off St Joseph’s Vale. The school has 42 vehicle spaces and over 200 cycle spaces. 1.8 The original design of the school allows for community use of a number of facilities including the assembly room, dance/drama studio and sports hall. 1.9 The current application relates to land to the north of the main school building close to the northern boundary of the site. Three single storey blocks of temporary classrooms are currently located in this part of the site. 2.0 Planning History 2.1 There are a number of permissions for St Joseph's Academy secondary school and Our Lady of Lourdes primary school which are of limited relevance since the redevelopment of the site. 2.2 In 2005 planning permission was granted for the demolition of buildings on the site and construction of a part single, part two, part three storey building, plus part lower ground floor level, to provide a new Academy, together with associated landscaping and playing fields, provision of 232 bicycle and 42 car parking spaces with access off St Joseph’s Vale (DC/04/57340). 2.3 Since the approval of the Academy there have also been a number of applications received and dealt with regarding detailed submissions. 2.4 In March 2011 planning permission was granted for the retention of 3 single storey blocks comprising 6 temporary classroom units, together with access ramps at the rear of St Matthew Academy St Joseph's Vale SE3 (DC/10/75107). The consent permits the retention of the buildings until 31 March 2012. 2.5 Also in March 2011 planning permission was granted for the alteration and conversion of the existing sports hall at St Matthew Academy, St Joseph's Vale SE3, to provide classroom accommodation, including external facade alterations to form new window and door openings and the extension of an existing external staircase to first floor level (DC/10/75832). This scheme has been implemented and the new classrooms are now in use. 3.0 Current Planning Application 3.1 This application is for the construction of a new Sports Hall with associated changing, storage and fitness suite and alterations to existing landscaping. The Sports Hall would replace that recently converted to classroom accommodation. The proposed Sports Hall is to be located on the site of the existing temporary classrooms. 3.2 The building would be of two storeys and would be broadly rectangular, measuring 9m in height x 18.7m wide x 46m long. In addition there is a single storey element on the northern side that measures 5.6m (h) x 4m (w) x 16.9m (l). The external materials that have been proposed comprise largely of aluminium micro rib cladding (in 2 colours) with a blue brick plinth mainly on the north elevation. The smaller north element of the building will be clad in western red cedar cladding. The windows, doors and curtain walling are all to be aluminium to match the rest of the school. 3.3 The Design and Access Statement explains that when the school opened in 2008 it inherited a relatively small number of boys from St Joseph’s Academy and as intended, the school roll has increased year on year, so that the planned total roll of 900 students in Years 7-11 has now been attained, as of September 2011. It notes that due to financial restrictions imposed on the project the original school design was downscaled during the design process. Due to the layout of the teaching space a number of shortfalls with regard to accommodation became apparent following the opening of the school, such that some of the teaching concepts were identified as not effective, leaving a shortage of classroom space. The effect of this was that in June 2010 the school was already at maximum capacity and the temporary classrooms and conversion of the original gym, for which planning permission was granted in March 2011, were measures designed to ensure provision of sufficient teaching space for the full Years 7-11 roll of 900 students. 3.4 The proposed new gym is seen as the third and final phase of the programme to create additional teaching accommodation to cater for the 900 students in Years 7-11. The temporary classrooms are to be removed, which would then allow for the construction of the new gym. It has been confirmed that overall student numbers are not planned to increase as a result of this proposal. 4.0 Consultation & Replies Neighbours & Local Amenity Societies etc 4.1 Letters of consultation were sent to 76 neighbouring properties and the Blackheath Society, together with notices displayed on site and in the local press. Ward Councillors were also consulted. 4.2 A total of 15 responses have been received. Of these, 12 are objection letters from the occupiers of 2, 24, 29, 64, 66, 85, 129, 130, St Joseph’s Vale, 7 and 10 Nesbit Close, 3 The Meadway, 5 Lee Terrace. 1 letter from the occupier of 3 The Glebe makes comments on the application and 2 letters from the occupiers of 54 St Joseph’s Vale and 1d The Glebe are in support of the application. 4.3 The letters of objection that have been received raise the following issues:- • Work is still incomplete at the old entrance in The Glebe. Lighting and car park use not being adhered to. • Will the temporary classrooms be removed? • Traffic nuisance is a big issue for residents. • Will the artificial playing fields remain? • Noise disturbance is insufferable and stressful in a residential area. • Development is ill thought out. • Why must pupil number reach the planned amount? • Access to the school is inadequate. • Construction machinery causes obstruction and delays. • Drop off and pick up times result in the road being blocked. • Where will construction vehicles enter/exit the site. • Not clear where the building is to be located from the site plans. • Overlooking will occur from the new classrooms. • Coaches and delivery vehicles often obstruct the road. • There should be an area within the school grounds for drop off/turning area. 4.4 The letters of support state: • Noise levels that are produced from the school are neither excessive or a nuisance. • The proposal will promote health and well being of children. • It is vital for schools to have appropriate facilities. (Letters are available to Members) 4.5 Following the number of objections that were received, a Local Meeting was held at 7:00pm at St Matthew Academy on 28 th June 2011. The meeting was attended by 3 residents. The main topics of discussion at the meeting related to issues concerning traffic/cars and possible inconvenience of construction traffic.