Contact: Judith Smallman, ext 5461 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought for the continued siting of one double and one single temporary classroom at Grange Infant School, Franklin Road, Rowner, Gosport. The recommendation is to grant planning permission.

2. Site

2.1 Grange Infant School is located within an area of residential development to the south of the B3334 Rowner Road at Rowner. The single and double temporary classrooms are located along the western side of the school, separated from the adjoining residential development by a grassed area. Access to the school is via Franklin Road.

3. Proposal

3.1 The existing temporary buildings were first granted planning permission in 1990 and 1994 and were required to accommodate numbers on roll. The numbers attending the school are known by the Education Department to be highly variable as they are affected by Ministry of Defence operations influencing staff changes. Over the last three years numbers have been declining at the school which can accommodate 270 children but currently has 207 on roll. Whilst negotiations are taking place with the school to consider the removal of the single classroom, a final decision has not yet been made as further information is required on future Ministry of Defence changes. In the meantime the temporary classrooms are still required on site.

4. Development Plan

4.1 Gosport Borough Local Plan 1995. There are no specific policies relevant to the proposal.

5. Consultations

5.1 Gosport Borough Council raises no objection to the renewal of consent for the double and single temporary classrooms for one year only. There is concern at the long term continued siting of the temporary classroom buildings on this school site. Although the current buildings were first authorised in 1990 and 1994, `temporary' buildings have been located on this campus since 1965, only four years after the granting of permission for the school itself. It is considered that this is a clear indication that the capacity of this school has for decades been unable to accommodate the roll numbers generated within this catchment area. It was requested that these comments were reported to this Committee.

5.2 Councillor Snaith and Councillor West have been informed of the application.

6. Representations

6.1 No representations have been received.

7. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

7.1 The proposal is in accordance with the general policies of the Local Plan. It is acknowledged that the double and single temporary classrooms that are subject to this application have been on-site for 13 and 10 years respectively. However, it is accepted that it is difficult for the Education Department to forecast numbers at the school. It is County Council policy to replace temporary accommodation with permanent build and this is taking place according to priority. However, as numbers are currently decreasing there is no justification for permanent replacement of temporary classrooms at this time. Negotiations are taking place with the school to seek the removal of the single temporary classroom, which is welcomed. The temporary classrooms are not visually intrusive from the adjoining residential development. It is therefore considered that, in the circumstances, permission should be granted for a further four year period.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of the continued siting of one double and one single temporary classroom (Refs: 10425 and 11288) at Grange Infant School, Franklin Road, Rowner, Gosport (K5322/10) be granted, subject to the following condition:

(1) The development hereby permitted shall be for a limited period only, expiring on 31 August 2007 or when the education use ceases, whichever is the sooner. At the expiration of this period the buildings (as identified by reference numbers 10425 and 11288) shall be removed and the land reinstated to its former condition as soon as possible.

Reason: To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and to secure the visual amenity of the locality, as the buildings are not considered suitable for permanent retention.

8169/JS