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Division affected: Iffley

ITEM PN5

PLANNING & REGULATION COMMITTEE –
4 APRIL 2005

COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATIONS

 

Development proposed:

PLANNING APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF CONSENT FOR ONE SINGLE PREFABRICATED CLASSROOM BUILDING (REF: VH06) FOR A TEMPORARY PERIOD OF TWO YEARS

Location:

CHURCH COWLEY ST JAMES CE PRIMARY SCHOOL, BARTHOLOMEW ROAD, COWLEY, OXFORD OX4 3QH

Application No: O.24/04 District Council area: Oxford City

Introduction

  1. This application is for the renewal and continued use of a single prefabricated classroom building at this school for a further period of two years. A review of the school’s overall accommodation needs is to be undertaken which will take account of the amount of teaching space in temporary accommodation.

    2. Location (see plan attached) (download as .doc file)

  2. The school is located just over a mile to the south east of Oxford city centre on the south side of Bartholomew Road in Church Cowley. The school lies within a residential area with allotment gardens immediately to the east and south east.

    3. Relevant site features (see plan)

  3. The classroom is located on the eastern side of the site close to the main school building. There are no dwellings immediately adjacent. The nearest properties on Bartholomew Road to the north and Van Diemans Lane to the south are 32 metres and 42 metres away respectively. The school car park and a playground abut the unit to the north.

    4. Details and background of the development

  4. The building which measures 4m x 6m is timber clad with a felt roof. Permission was initially granted (for a ten year period) in 1969 and has been renewed at five yearly intervals since that time.

    5. Relevant Planning Policies

  5. See Annex 1.

    6. Consultations/Representations

  6. Oxford City Council – objects for the following reasons:

    7. The proposal is a renewal of a temporary permission where the applicant does not demonstrate the need for the renewal of the temporary building and in this prominent location is considered to be detrimental to visual amenity and thereafter contrary to policy EN93 of the Oxford Local Plan and policy CP25 of the Second Draft Oxford Local Plan.

    Environment Agency – no objections.

    Transport – no objection.

    Third Party Representations

  7. No third party representations have been received.

    8. Comments of the Head of Sustainable Development

  8. The main considerations in determining this application are the impact of the proposal on the visual amenity of the area and the need to keep this temporary structure on site for a further period of two years.

  9. I do not agree with the City Council comments that this temporary building occupies a prominent location and is detrimental to visual amenity. The building is set back from the main road (Bartholomew Road) and is tucked into the eastern elevation of the existing school building overlooking allotments. The view into the site from the main road is screened by existing trees on the school frontage and an adjacent garage block. Immediately to the front and side of the building is a cycle storage facility. The view of the building from both front, side and rear is seen against the background of the existing school building and the temporary building certainly does not stand out.

  10. There is a requirement within the school to provide accommodation for essential small group work and a special needs withdrawal area. There is no space within the existing building to provide this accommodation. City Council Policy EN93 expects temporary buildings to be allowed only for 18 months. A review of overall accommodation requirements at the school is due to take place which could see the replacement of this temporary unit. Planning permission is therefore sought for a two year period, to retain the building whilst this review takes place. In these circumstances, I consider that this proposal is acceptable.

    11. RECOMMENDATIONS

  11. The Committee is RECOMMENDED that Application No. O24/04 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Director for Environment & Economy but to include:

    1. Detailed compliance.

    2. Temporary consent – two years only.

CHRIS COUSINS
Head of Sustainable Development

Contact Officer: Margaret Bough Tel: 01865 810433 File: O.24/04

7 March 2005

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