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

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought for an extension comprising new classroom, staff room extension and link corridor at Liphook Infant School, Avenue Close, Liphook. East Hampshire District Council and local residents have raised objection. The recommendation is to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

2. Site

2.1 Liphook Infant School shares a site with Liphook Junior School. The site lies within a residential area accessed by a cul-de-sac, Avenue Close. The school is of Scola construction. Until four years ago the school roll was approximately 270 pupils. Since then roll numbers have reduced to 240 children as a result of the `30 pupils per class' rule. In 1999 the school had temporary classrooms replaced with new classrooms but this did not improve capacity. There is currently a waiting list for Year 1 and the school is at capacity. New housing developments have recently been completed in Liphook and more are under way.

3. Proposal

3.1 The proposal is for a new reception classroom to make the school a full 3 Form Entry. Whilst the number of pupils will be increasing these will be no greater than the levels reached four years ago.

3.2 The proposed location of the classroom will partially fill an existing courtyard to the side of the school. The design and proposed materials will replicate existing buildings. Externally the new classroom will occupy a courtyard playground, which is also used for parent waiting. The existing footpath and playground are to be extended to provide parent waiting space. A new fence will be erected along the boundary of the existing front playground.

3.3 A corridor is also proposed across the east side of the hall to avoid staff and any visitors arriving at the main entrance disturbing activities in the hall. The design does not physically separate the hall allowing the improved ventilation in the corridor to benefit the hall.

3.4 An enlarged staff room will be provided. This will require the construction of a single external wall, floor and roof with additional support to the existing Scola frame.

3.5 The new classroom will require an additional teacher and classroom assistant. Parking provision for these additional posts will be catered for within the existing staff car park. The car park will be accommodating the extra cars through management rather than available space.

3.6 The schools have produced a Traffic Management Plan in conjunction with East Hampshire District Council, Parish Council and Local Residents through Hampshire County Council's Safer Routes to School initiative.

4. Development Plan

4.1 East Hampshire District Local Plan: Second Review. Second Deposit Draft January 2002. School is within the Settlement Policy Boundary. Relevant policy HC 3 (Development of new public services).

5. Consultations

5.1 The local Member, Councillor Cartwright has been informed of the proposal.

5.2 Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council has no objection to the proposal.

5.3 East Hampshire District Council raises objection to the proposal in view of the existing traffic and parking problems in the locality of the school. The following measures should be explored before planning permission is granted:

(i) improve drop off facilities for parents;

(ii) increase parking for staff and for school events; and

(iii) a realistic and achievable Traffic Management Plan.

5.4 Development Control Highways has no objection subject to conditions.

6. Representations

6.1 Thirteen identical and five individual letters of objection have been received from local residents of The Avenue and Avenue Close. There is no objection in principle to the development. However, there are strong objections to existing traffic congestion caused by cars being used to drop off and pick up children from Liphook Infant and Junior Schools, which will be exacerbated causing the following adverse effects:

(i) logjams regularly occur at the junctions of The Avenue, Avenue Close and Headley Road resulting in traffic being unable to move in either direction, occasionally up to 20 minutes at a time;

(ii) inconsiderate parking causing blockages to private driveways;

(iii) damage to grass verges resulting from cars being parked off the road;

(iv) vehicles driving along pavements resulting in serious danger to pedestrians when trying to use pathways walking to and from school;

(v) verbal abuse by parents when asked not to park inconsiderately;

(vi) buses stopping to drop passengers off in the middle of the road due to the fact that they cannot stop at the side of the road because of traffic volumes and parked cars. This results in further delays and prolonged stationary traffic; and

(vii) residents together with other representatives have been involved in the production of a Traffic Management Plan and this should be implemented before the additional classroom is constructed.

7. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

7.1 The development is in accordance with the general policies of the local plan although it is acknowledged that there is a serious traffic issue at the school causing amenity problems to local residents.

7.2 Although a Traffic Management Plan has been produced through the Safer Routes to School initiative, there has been a delay in implementing proposals. However, it is understood that funding is available for the financial year 2004-2005 for securing the implementation of the Plan.

7.3 Whilst it appears sensible for the proposals contained in the Traffic Management Plan to be implemented prior to the construction of the new classroom, funding for the classroom needs to be secured during this financial year as the classroom is required by September to accommodate numbers on roll.

7.4 East Hampshire's objection is noted. It is considered that any permission should be subject to a condition that, prior to the occupation of the new classroom, the existing Traffic Management Plan is reviewed to investigate if an in-out scheme for traffic is workable and achievable to help further relieve congestion of surrounding roads.

Recommendation

That planning permission in respect of extension comprising new classroom, staff room extension and link corridor at Liphook Infant School, Avenue Close, Liphook (F24373/004) be granted permission for the following reason and subject to the following conditions.

Reason for Approval

It is considered that the proposal would be in accordance with the development plan, and would not materially harm the character of the area or the amenity of local residents, and would be acceptable in terms of highway safety and convenience.

Conditions

(1) The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of five years from the date on which this planning permission was granted.

Reason: To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

(2) There shall be no access to the development site by any traffic associated with the construction/demolition (ie no delivery vehicles, no contractors' cars, nor plant and machinery) in the morning between the hours of 0840 and 0920; and in the afternoon between the hours of 1500 and 1545.

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

(3) Samples of the materials and finishes to be used for the external walls and roofs of the proposed buildings shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority in writing before the development commences.

Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and to secure a satisfactory development.

(4) Measures shall be taken to prevent mud and spoil from vehicles leaving the site during the demolition works, and being deposited on the public highway. These measures shall be implemented before the development commences and thereafter maintained. No vehicle shall leave the site unless its wheels have been cleaned sufficiently to prevent mud being carried on to the public highway. In the event that any mud or spoil is deposited on the highway, it shall be cleaned off at the end of each working day.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

(5) The Traffic Management Plan shall be revised to consider more fundamental changes to accommodate traffic to the school in the access routes to the school in consultation with local residents and East Hampshire District Council for adoption prior to the use of the new classroom and implemented to a programme to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority.

Reason: In the interests of highway and pedestrian safety and residential amenity.

8724/JS