Contact: Martin Leeds, ext 6733 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Planning permission is sought by the County Council for the construction of a replacement Education Support Centre (known as Woodlands Education Centre) on land off Park House Farm Way, Havant. The proposed design of the development has changed from the initial application in 2003, consequently, the local County Councillor has requested that the application is considered by the Committee. There are no planning objections and the recommendation is for planning permission to be granted.

2. Site and Proposal

2.1 The site, as shown on the attached plan, comprises land previously containing a school destroyed by fire in 2002 which is now mostly grassed. There is residential development to the north, east and south. To the west is countryside. The site, which is owned by the County Council, will be divided into two; one part (the southern half) is for the replacement school, whilst the northern half is for residential development.

2.2 The proposed replacement school has a floor area of approximately 1660 square metres. It is mainly a single storey building with a two storey hall. The exterior appearance would be of facing brick with timber cladding, the roof standing seam metal. Parking for 20 vehicles including two disabled spaces will be provided and a new vehicular entrance and a pedestrian access constructed off Park House Farm Way. The existing access point into the site from Sparsholt Close on its southern boundary will be closed. A playing field and a hard surface play court will be provided to the west of the proposed school building and landscaping carried out. The hard play surface court will not be floodlit.

2.3 The Centre would provide teaching accommodation for about 48 secondary age children who have either been excluded from main stream education or considered too emotionally vulnerable for main stream education. In addition, there is accommodation for Outreach professionals who will work with children in the local area.

2.4 Some of the facilities at the school, for example, the hall, changing rooms, together with the playing field and hard surface play court, will be available for use by the local community out of school hours. The precise arrangement will be agreed with the school once it becomes operational.

3. Development Plan

3.1 The site is shown as Countryside in the District-Wide Local Plan, however, as the land previously had school buildings the application has not been publicised as a `departure'.

3.2 Havant Borough District-Wide Local Plan 1996-2011 (adopted September 2005). Policies D1 (High Quality Design) and L7 (New Landscape Works) apply.

3.3 Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review) (adopted March 2000). Policy UB3 (appropriate development) applies.

4. Consultations

4.1 Havant Borough Council has no objection in principle subject to conditions and that there is a commitment from the Local Education Authority to enter into a Community Use Agreement and Sports Development Plan for the Education Support Centre, to be approved in conjunction with Sport England. In addition, there is a need to develop a Travel Plan.

4.2 Highways Adviser has no objection in principle subject to conditions and provision of a Travel Plan.

4.3 The local Member, Councillor Mrs Buckley has requested the application be determined by the Regulatory Committee since the current design of the proposed development is different from that which was initially submitted.

5. Representations

5.1 No comments have been received from local residents.

6. Chief Planning Adviser's Comments

6.1 Although the District-Wide Local Plan 1996-2011 indicates the site is within the Countryside, the current application it is not considered to be a departure from the Local Plan, because previously there was a school on the land. This view is confirmed by the Borough Council's support for the proposal. In principle there is no planning objection to the development.

6.2 In response to the Borough Council's requests for use agreements for the Education Support Centre, Children's Services has advised that discussions have been held and a Community Use Agreement is being negotiated between all interested parties. It is envisaged that the agreements will be in place before the school is first occupied.

6.3 The Travel Plan would be required by a planning condition.

6.4 The design of the building has changed from when the application was first submitted in 2003. (Inner courtyards have been deleted and elevations altered). However, in land use terms, these changes are considered to be acceptable. It is recommended to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

Recommendation

That planning permission for construction of New Education Support Centre on land at Park House Primary School, Park House Farm Way, Havant (Application No. 03/59145/003) (County Council Ref. HVE036), be granted 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 (summary attached) 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.

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(as amended) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2. Samples and/or details 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.

3. No later than two months from the start of works on-site, full details of all the hard and soft landscaped areas, including the boundaries of the application site have been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority in writing. All hard and soft landscape works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved plans.

Reason: In the interest of visual amenity.

4. The approved landscape scheme, shall be carried out in the first planting season following the occupation of the buildings. Any trees or hedging which, within a period of three 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.

5. Measures shall be taken to prevent mud and spoil from vehicles leaving the site during the construction works being deposited on the public highway. These measures shall be implemented before the development commences and thereafter maintained for the duration of the construction works. 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 on each day of working.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

6. Occupation of the buildings shall not commence until provision for the parking, turning, loading and unloading of vehicles has been made within the curtilage. The areas of land so provided shall not be used for any purpose other than the parking, turning, loading and unloading of vehicles.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety.

7. Any topsoil and overburden which is to be re-used within the site, shall be stripped from the areas to be excavated and shall be stored separately before building operations commence. Topsoil shall only be handled when dry and friable.

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory development.

8. In the event it is necessary to import soils to complete any groundworks, the material shall be of an uncontaminated nature and be free of timber, builders' rubble, metals, glass, plastics, domestic/industrial wastes including effluents. The soil shall only be spread in periods of dry weather.

Reasons: (i) To reduce the possibility of unsatisfactory materials being deposited on the site. (ii) In order to reduce soil compaction when the weather is wet.

9. No work relating to the construction of the development approved, including works of preparation prior to operations, the delivery of construction materials, skips or machinery, nor the removal of waste materials, shall take place before 0800 hours or after 1800 hours Monday to 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.

10. No later than three months from commencement of use of the development as a school, a School Travel Plan shall be submitted in writing to, and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The agreed Travel Plan shall be operational within a total of six months from the date of its initial submission.

Reason: To minimise trip generations associated with the development by the private car and encourage the use of alternative means of travel in compliance with the aims and objectives of PPG13.

11. Any floodlights to be erected for the external sports areas shall be the subject of a further planning application to the Local Planning Authority.

.

Reason: In the interest of amenity of occupiers of nearby properties.

997/ML

Annexe to Reasons for Conditions

(as required by Article 22 of the Town and Country Planning

(General Procedure) Order 1995 - as amended)

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Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review) [adopted March 2000]

Policy UB3 (appropriate development)

All development permitted in accordance with other Policies of this Plan should be appropriate in design, scale, layout and density to its surroundings and contribute to the quality of the built environment.

Havant Borough District-Wide Local Plan 1996-2011 [adopted September 2005]

Policy D1 (High Quality Design)

Development will be permitted provided it achieves [in terms of siting, massing, scale, proportion, alignment, rhythm, layout, materials (finishes, details, features), spaces and views] all of the following:

(i) creates an attractive environment that has its own distinctive identity but which respects and enhances local character;

(ii) ensures the efficient use of land;

(iii) provides safe and convenient access to facilities and public transport;

(iv) does not adversely affect the amenities of occupiers of neighbouring properties.

Policy L7 (New Landscape Works)

Planning permission for new development will be granted subject to provision being made for new landscape works to enable the development to integrate successfully into the local environment. Landscape proposals should incorporate and enhance existing landscape features, where appropriate and complement them with new landscape works using local materials and plant species. Provision should be made for future maintenance of new landscape works, associated with the new development.