Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Policy and Resources Item

13 March 2002

Land at Warblington School and Fairfield Infant School, Havant -

Potential In/Out Scheme Disposal

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

The following decision is sought:

That authority be given to explore the feasibility of disposing of potentially surplus land at Warblington School and the implications of this for the adjoining Fairfield Infant School together with formally responding to the Local Plan consultation in respect of the allocation of this land for new housing.

2

Reason

2.1

To enable the County Council to provide funds for the improvement of education facilities at the two schools as an In/Out Scheme.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

None

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or a member or officer consulted

4.1

Not applicable

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1

Not applicable

6

Reason for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1

Not applicable

Approved by:

..........................

Date of decision:

.........................

Councillor T K Thornber

Hampshire County Council

Executive member for Policy and Resources

13 March 2002

Land at Warblington School and Fairfield Infant School, Havant -

Potential In/Out Scheme Disposal

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Introduction

1.1

This report seeks authority to explore the feasibility of disposing of potentially surplus land at Warblington School and the implications of this for the adjoining Fairfield Infant School and, as a consequence, to respond formally to the Havant Local Plan consultation in respect of the allocation of this land for new housing.

1.2

The reason for pursuing this proposal is to enable the County Council to provide funds for the improvement of education facilities at the two schools as an In/Out scheme. The scheme will require the approval of the Executive Member for Education and in due course also the Secretary of State for Education and Skills following consultation with the governors and parents of both schools and the wider community.

2

Background

2.1

Warblington Secondary School has about 1000 pupils in the 11 to 16 year age group and occupies buildings mainly of system construction from the 1960s and 70s with some later additions. The school has identified a number of potential building projects to improve the education facilities. The governors have also suggested that the area of playing field in excess of DfES standards could be sold in order to fund the building improvements.

2.2

In consultation with the School the land has been included in the Havant Borough Council Local Plan (Deposit) as a `reserve' housing site. This allocation means that it can come forward for development only after a number of other identified sites are under development; in practice this could be after 2006. Havant Borough Council has placed the Local Plan on deposit for public consultation until Easter.

2.3

The Local Plan does not prescribe how the land should be accessed for any development but the adjacent area with frontage to New Lane is also owned by the County Council and consists of the former Hayling Billy railway line, part of which has been recently upgraded as a footpath and cycle route and part of which is in use by Fairfield Infant School. The former railway is held for the Havant Town Centre Relief Road which the County Surveyor advises is to be abandoned.

3

Impact of Proposals

3.1

Initial studies show that development on the Warblington School site may be feasible but further work is required on a number of issues including access. The proposal is to continue these studies to point where the position becomes clear and this report highlights some of the matters of concern.

3.2

The land that will be affected by a new access is used by the County Council owned Fairfield Infant School as an Environmental Teaching Area. This land would be bisected by any new road and the view is that it may be better to relocate this to other land adjacent to the school where direct pedestrian access would be available. The School has used this land for some 15 years and has invested considerable time and effort in improving the site. It is of major value to the School and any proposals will have to take into account the prospect of appropriate relocation.

3.3

The County Council's land has limited frontage to New Lane which could lead to an unsatisfactory access and restrict the amount of development. The opportunity exists to exchange an area of land with the Parchment Housing Group to provide a better access. The Group has recently obtained planning consent for a small housing scheme on its land which could be transferred onto the County Council's land as part of an exchange arrangement.

3.4

Owing to the uncertainty over whether the development will proceed and its possible phasing and access, it is proposed to explore all the options for temporary and long-term road access arrangements. Havant Borough Council's Transportation Manager has advised that further traffic-calming measures in the area are proposed and the railway level-crossing which adjoins the site is being investigated for possible closure to vehicles.

3.5

In order to protect the County Council's interests it is proposed that a formal response will be made to the Local Plan consultation advocating that the Borough Council bring forward the land for development at the earliest opportunity which would enable the sales receipt to be used to fund early improvements to the two schools concerned.

4

Financial Implications

4.1

The gross area initially identified for disposal amounts to 1.87 ha (4.623 acres) and this might be sold in part or whole direct to The Parchment Housing Group or placed on the open market. The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the Learning and Skills Act 2000 require that the full proceeds of any disposal (net of consultants fees etc) should be made available for school improvements

5

Conclusion

5.1

Warblington School has identified an opportunity to raise funds for improvements to the school which might otherwise have to wait for an allocation in the Education capital programme, at the same time the Borough Council is introducing the site into the Local Plan which, subject to Public Inquiry, could become a housing site. In order to effect these proposals it is necessary to put an access through land used by the adjoining Fairfield Infant School, but this could be reprovided and also further improvements may be funded at this school. The neighbouring Housing Group is willing to participate in the exchange and possible purchase of land to achieve the best outcome in terms of access and design.