Application No. O.04/02 (detailed)

Erection of a single classroom prefabricated building for a temporary period of three years, New Hinksey CE First School, Vicarage Road, Oxford OX1 4RQ

Development and Site (see plan):

This application has been submitted as part of the proposals for the restructuring of the City’s school system. As a result New Hinksey First School will increase by one classroom from 150 to 180 children. At this stage a prefabricated classroom is proposed for a temporary period of three years because the Education Department, the Oxford Diocese and the school governors are currently considering the future development of the school. The classroom location has been chosen to avoid impinging on the school’s limited hard play area and the small nursery garden. The building would be rendered with a brick pattern to match the existing buildings on the site.

Relevant Local Plan Policies

Results of Consultations:

Oxford City Council – no objection.

Environment Agency – site lies within a dry island of the 1947 floodplain of the River Thames. Requests imposition of 3 conditions:

• submit details of openings and associated grilles to the under-floor voids;
• no raising of existing ground levels;
• no spoil/materials shall be deposited/stored on part of site laying within area of land liable to flood.

Mr M Castiglione, 44 Vicarage Road – object, classroom is very close to my property and would result in unacceptable loss of daylight and (were there to be windows facing my property), privacy. Prefabricated building would not be in keeping with character of the area. Better to locate the building nearer the existing buildings.

Director’s Comments:

A neighbour on the opposite side of Vicarage Road has objected to the proposal on the grounds of loss of daylight and privacy. The proposed classroom is a single storey building and to north of his property and so there would be no overshadowing. The classroom would be on the same building line as other houses on Vicarage Road. The neighbour’s property on the other side of the road is set back by over 4 metres from the pavement. The elevation facing the street will have no windows, so there will be no effect on his privacy or that of adjacent residents.

The building is to be clad in a brick appearance render to match the existing buildings on the site.

If the prefabricated classroom was moved nearer the existing buildings this would hinder the possible option of constructing a permanent extension at a future date.

In my view the increase of one classroom is not significant in terms of additional traffic. However, to encourage more sustainable means of transport and in line with developments at other schools in the City, I suggest that the school adopts a Travel Plan and provides cycle parking.

Recommendation:

The Committee is RECOMMENDED subject to the consideration of any objections received before the date of this meeting, to approve the application subject to the following conditions:

1. Detailed compliance;
2. Temporary permission – 3 years;
3. Approve sample panel of wall material on site;
4. Protect trees on site;
5. No services routed under canopies of trees;
6. Submit details of openings to under-floor voids;
7. No raising of ground levels;
8. No materials deposited/stored in part of site liable to flood;
9. Preparation of a School Travel Plan;
10. Provision of a cycle parking scheme.

Contact Officer: Mike Robinson Tel: Oxford 810431