Hampshire County Council

Executive Member for Policy and Resources Item

7 December 2007

Former Beech Down Primary School, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke

Report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

(Summary of an EXEMPT decision)

1

Summary

1.1

The following decisions are sought:

That approval be given to:

a) the use of approximately 0.2 hectare of the former Beech Down Primary School site, including Pre-School building, to provide an outreach unit for a proposed new Children's Centre serving Brighton Hill, as described in the report;

b) declare the remaining 2.95 hectare site of the former Beech Down Primary School, surplus to County Council requirements for proposed disposal for residential redevelopment, including the potential to provide an extra care affordable housing scheme for older people, on the basis described in the report;

c) up to 100% of the net sale proceeds being retained by Children's Services as a reinvestment scheme to repay the School Balances Loan Fund an estimated £3.5m in respect of the cost of the recent primary school reorganisation in south-west Basingstoke and to finance the cost of providing a new pre-school and outreach facility in Brighton Hill.

d) seek planning consent(s) for the residential redevelopment of approximately 2.95 hectares of surplus land at the former Beech Down Primary School site and to enter into any necessary formal agreements with the Local Planning Authority to secure such consents.

2

Reason

2.1

These decisions support the following Hampshire County Council priorities:

·

Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all, by helping young people to live positive lives by providing improved school premises and a Children's Centre to help give the best start possible through our education system and the other children's services provided.

·

Maximising wellbeing by providing a suitable and accessible site for potential extra care sheltered housing scheme to enable older people to live as independently as possible in self-contained accommodation, with access to on-site provision of care and support services.

·

Enhancing our quality of place, by providing new housing on surplus "brownfield" land.

3

Other options considered and rejected

3.1

Alternative options to provide the proposed Children's Centre, both within the Beech Down site and at Manor Field Infant School nearby, were considered but rejected. The proposals benefit from the good accessibility of both sites in relation to need, and makes good use of the ability to convert and extend the existing Pre-School building at Beech Down and accommodation at Manor Field Infant School. There are no significant impediments to this work proceeding independently at both sites.

4

Conflicts of interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member consulted - None

5

Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - None

6

Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - None