Hampshire County Council

Executive Member, Policy & Resources Item

16 October 2003

Proposed Re-use of Former Rookwood County Infants School,

Eastleigh

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

The following decisions are sought:

Approval to:

(i) adaptation and re-use of the former Rookwood Infants School building to accommodate the Hampshire Music Service and County Youth Service employees and

(ii) promote the development of housing in part of the School grounds, including an agreement with Eastleigh Borough Council for the provision of key worker housing

2

Reason(s)

2.1

To make effective use of the vacant former Rookwood Infant School building and grounds.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

Total redevelopment of the site.

4

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

4.1

None

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1

None

6

Reason(s) 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, Policy & Resources Item

16 October 2003

Proposed Re-use of the former Rookwood County Infants School,

Eastleigh

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Introduction

1.1

This report seeks approval to a series of linked decisions affecting County Council properties intended to:

(i) provide enhanced accommodation for the County Councils` services in the vacant building at the former Rookwood Infant School, Eastleigh and

(ii) promote the provision of key worker housing in association with an agreement with Eastleigh Borough Council to transfer land required for the construction of the new Chandlers Ford Railway Station.

2

Background

Rookwood County Infant School

2.1

The former Rookwood County Infant School building extends to 892 square metres of single storey accommodation which was constructed in the late 1970s in response to the major expansion of Eastleigh in the Boyatt Wood area. Following the decline in demand for infant school education in the area, a review of primary school provision led to the closure of the school in 1997.

2.2

Since this time, various temporary uses have been made of the school buildings and consideration has been given to options for the re-use of the building and/or redevelopment of the site.

2.3

The school site extends to approximately 0.9 ha (2.3 acres) and is constrained along its western and northern boundaries by the existence of overhead high voltage electricity supply lines and other main services and by planning policies affecting its redevelopment potential.

Chandlers Ford Railway Station

2.4

The County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council have promoted the re-opening of the Chandlers Ford Railway Station which was achieved in May of this year when the first passenger train for over 30 years ran from the station.

2.5

In order to assemble the scheme which involves the provision of station buildings, car parking and ancillary works, the County Council agreed to acquire approximately 0.28 hectares (0.7 acre) of land which had residential development potential from the Borough Council.

2.6

By making part of the former Rookwood County Infant School site available for the development of key worker housing whilst the County Council would forego a potential capital receipt, joint benefit would be available to both Councils in the provision of key worker housing of an equivalent value.

3

Proposals

3.1

Negotiations held with Eastleigh Borough Council, as both the Local Planning Authority and adjoining landowner on the redevelopment potential of the former Rookwood County Infant School site, have led to the assembly of the following proposals for the re-use of the school buildings and redevelopment of part of the school grounds.

(i) The existing school building should be refurbished to provide a permanent home for the Hampshire Music Service and part of the County Youth Service. Part of the grounds to the west of the school building would be retained for car parking/circulation space etc for this use.

(ii) The remainder of the site is to be developed with a mix of affordable, social, key worker and open market housing, subject to the grant of planning consent. The existing highway access from Penshurst Way would be retained with amendments to Torre Close to provide emergency vehicle access to meet planning policy requirements.

(iii) The works to the school would also include the reinstatement of fire damage caused by an arson attack in August 2003.

(iv) The Hampshire Music Service would occupy approximately 510 square metres net of the former school building with the remaining accommodation to be used to house part of the County Youth Service. The Music Service is currently housed in temporary accommodation on the County Council's Bereweeke Road site in Winchester following flood damage to the temporary accommodation which the Service occupied on the St Bede School site, Winchester prior to its flooding in the winter of 2000/2001. The early relocation of the Music Service is required to provide an improved and permanent home for the Music Service and to vacate the Bereweeke Road site following the removal of other temporary buildings after the St Bede School returned to its refurbished buildings in Gordon Road, Winchester.

(v) Currently the Youth Service employees are housed in leased accommodation in Bournemouth Road, Chandlers Ford and a relocation to the former Rookwood Infant School will avoid the need to renew the lease.

(vi) The early relocation of the Hampshire Music Service will be required in order to proceed with the proposed development of the Winchester Early Years Centre on the Bereweeke Road site. Subject to the grant of planning consent, construction of the new Winchester Early Years Centre will commence in the spring 2004. The use of the Rookwood School building will enable office and performing spaces to be provided for the Music Service on a cost effective basis, bringing the building back into permanent use and will accord with the Borough Council`s planning policies which seek to retain community use of such buildings.

4

Financial Considerations

4.1

It is proposed that the works to convert the former Rookwood Infant School building will be carried from the capital repairs - office accommodation budgets. The detailed costs are not currently available and will be submitted to an appropriate Buildings, Land and Contracts Panel meeting in the new year. The agreement on and benefit from the development purposals would allow Eastleigh Borough Council to propose that a sum of up to £250,000 be made available for the station project. The County Council would also benefit from nomination rights for key worker housing on the site.

Recommendation(s)

That:

Approval be given to:

1

adaptation and re-use of the former Rookwood Infants School building to accommodate the Hampshire Music Service and County Youth Service employees and

2

promote the development of housing in part of the School grounds, including an agreement with Eastleigh Borough Council for the provision of key worker housing.