Archived decisions

Contact: Judith Smallman, ext 5461

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought for temporary accommodation for the school library service at Sun Hill Junior School, Sun Hill, Alresford, to serve schools within Central Hampshire, which includes schools from the New Forest area. Notwithstanding objections from local residents the recommendation is to grant consent, subject to conditions.

2. Site and Proposals

2.1 Sun Hill School (illustrated on the attached plan) is located within a residential area and principally consists of single storey, flat roof scola buildings.

2.2 The school library service has been located in various temporary accommodation in Central Hampshire for many years. It is now necessary to transfer it from its existing site at Rookwood School, Eastleigh. The area proposed for a storage facility and workrooms for the school library service adjoins one of three hard play areas at the school. The accommodation would be subject to a temporary permission for an initial period of five years.

2.3 The adjoining playground will be used for the parking of cars and the delivery and collection of books as required. When the playground is required by the school, the library service will vacate the area.

2.4 The school library service will operate term time only between 0900 and 1800 hours. The school library service mobile will go in and out approximately once a day, usually before schoolchildren have arrived and after they have left at the end of the school day, to meet health and safety requirements. The mobile will be housed overnight and at weekends alongside the proposed building. There will be delivery vans, similar to a postal van, visiting the site a maximum of twice a week. Staff, two or three at the most, will park on the play area, with occasional parking from teachers who visit the library service approximately two to three times per week. In addition, there will be occasional meetings, involving a maximum of 20 teachers, held after school between 1530 and 1730. Whilst no boundary landscaping is currently proposed, the County Council has indicated that it would be prepared to include it if required.

3. Development Plan

3.1 The site is shown as an existing school site in the Winchester District Local Plan (1998). Relevant proposals are FS1, which supports the development of new or improved facilities or services within settlements, and EN5, which outlines the general design criteria for development. Proposed policies in the Winchester Local Plan Review Deposit 2001 reinforce this position.

4. Consultations

4.1 The comments of New Alresford Parish Council and the local Member - Councillor Mrs Glasspool are awaited.

4.2 The County Surveyor raises no objection, subject to conditions.

5. Representations

5.1 Four residents whose properties adjoin the proposed car park area object to this proposed use because of the loss of a school play area; increase in noise and general disturbance over longer hours; safety of children with increased vehicles using the site and loss of security.

6. City Council's Views

6.1 Winchester City Council's views are awaited.

7. County Planning Officer's Comments

7.1 The site can accommodate the additional building which will continue to provide a vital service to schools in Central Hampshire.

7.1 The proposal accords with the relevant policies of the adopted Local Plan, as it is development within an existing school site.

7.2 Whilst the existing playground is currently used by schoolchildren, the school has additional hard play areas that can be used. The school is satisfied with the proposed arrangements and does not consider that it prejudices children's safety.

7.3 The hours of operation will be 0900 to 1800 during school term time only. It is considered that the increase in the level of vehicular movements will be minimal and the use will not increase the security risk at the school. The school currently employs a security company to protect the site. Associated boundary landscaping in consultation with local residents would reduce the impact of the proposal on adjoining residential properties.

7.4 Officers at Winchester City Council have indicated that the windows of the temporary accommodation should be opaque to ensure privacy of facing residential properties. The library service requires blinds at all windows to ensure protection of books from sunlight. Opaque windows would not be conducive in providing a satisfactory working environment and the necessity for blinds would reduce any possible overlooking.

7.5 The proposed accommodation is within an established school site and provides a useful service to schools within Central Hampshire. It will in particular be a valuable asset to Sun Hill Junior School. It is not considered that the nature of the proposal will cause an increased disturbance to residents, any greater than its existing use. Nevertheless a condition should be imposed for additional landscaping which would result in an improvement to the amenity of residents.

Recommendation

That permission be granted for the provision of temporary accommodation for the school library service at Sun Hill Junior School, Sun Lane, Alresford (Application No. WO1218/070201355HCS), subject to the following conditions:

(1)The permission hereby granted shall be for a limited period expiring on 31 August 2007, on or before which date the building hereby permitted shall be removed and the land restored to its former condition in accordance with a scheme of work submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: The development is of a type not considered suitable for permanent retention.

(2)There shall be no access to the development site by any traffic associated with the construction (ie no delivery vehicles, no contractors' cars, no plant and machinery) or the mobile library in the morning between 0830 and 0900 and in the afternoon between 1515 and 1545 hours.

Reason: In the interests of public safety and to avoid traffic conflict at the times of the day when pupils are arriving at and departing from school.

(3)A landscape plan shall be prepared in consultation with local residents and submitted for approval by the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of development. It shall be implemented in the first planting and seeding season following the occupation of the building. Any plants or trees which within a period of five years from the date of planting die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

Reason: To improve the appearance of the site in the interests of visual amenity.

(4)No work relating to the construction of the development provided, including works of preparation prior to the operations, the delivery of construction materials, skips or machinery, nor the removal of waste materials, shall take place before the hours of 0800 or after 1800 Monday to Friday inclusive, before 0800 or after 1400 on Saturday, and not at all on Sunday or recognised public holidays, unless otherwise agreed beforehand in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: To protect the amenities of occupiers of nearby properties.

7254/JS