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Division(s) affected: Henley South

ITEM PN5

PLANNING & REGULATION COMMITTEE –
4 APRIL 2005

COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Development proposed:

ERECTION OF A SINGLE CLASSROOM UNIT

Location:

VALLEY ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL, VALLEY ROAD, HENLEY

Application No: S.02/05 District Council: South Oxfordshire

Introduction

  1. This application is for the erection of a detached single-storey building to act as a classroom fulfilling multi-purpose functions including art, drama and cooking at this school. The site is constrained by landscaping and slope of the site (from south to north) and so a design for a small stand alone building has been proposed. The unit would be used by existing pupils and the proposal does not include an expansion in the school numbers.

  2. The existing school building was built in the 1960’s (in brick with a flat roof). The design of the new unit would include a shallow pitched roof reflecting the design of the nearby caretaker’s bungalow (brick with a tiled roof). The materials would match the school building. The building also includes an access ramp for disabled pupils.

    3. Location

    (Plan - download as .doc file)

  3. The school is in a residential area of Henley just over half a mile to the south west of the town centre.

    4. Relevant Site Features

  4. The site is bounded by housing on three sides with an elderly persons’ home to the east. The school site slopes down from south to north and the main school buildings are set down into the land at the southern end of the site. The school has a number of trees on the site including three young ones where the new building is proposed. There is an old shed that would have to be removed in order to construct the new building.

    5. Relevant Planning Policies

  5. See Annex 1.

    6. Consultations

  6. South Oxfordshire District Council – response not yet received.

    7. Environment Agency – no objection.

    Sport England – no objection.

    County Ecologist – no objection.

    County Archaeologist – no objection; archaeological informative only required.

    Transport – no objection.

    Third Party Representations

  7. Three letters of objection have been received from local residents all concerned about the possibility of increased traffic caused by the new development and expansion of the school. They all complain about the current traffic problems at the start and end of the school day. One of the objectors has also expressed concerns about noise from children in the playing field immediately behind their property.

    8. Comments of the Head of Sustainable Development

  8. There are no objections to the design of the new building. It is a simple but pleasant design and would fit neatly next to the existing school. Although the style would differ slightly from the existing school in that it would have a pitched roof rather than a flat one, the unit is small and the pitch of the roof should not look out of place. The materials proposed (brick and tiled roof) would match the existing school, integrating the building into the overall site.

  9. The building would replace a rather untidy looking shed on the site and would sit in front of the boiler room/ kitchen area which would improve that particular view of the buildings. Views of the proposal from outside would be limited in any case because of the significant number of mature trees on the site, particularly along the northern boundary.

  10. Two trees would be removed as a result of the proposal. Their loss would not in my view lead to any significant loss of amenity. The most prominent of the trees in this immediate locality would remain and be protected and there are other significant and mature trees that help to screen the site. The County Forester has visited the site and has confirmed that he has no objection to the removal of two trees but would require that measures be taken to ensure the protection of other trees during construction works. This can be required by condition.

  11. The proposed building is for existing pupils and would not result in any extra children or traffic to the site. It is proposed to provide better facilities for the current pupils on roll, it is not proposed to allow an expansion in school numbers. There are no objections to the proposal from County Transport officers.

    12. Conclusions

  12. The proposed classroom building would allow the school to be more flexible in its provision of the curriculum to its existing pupils without leading to any significant harm to the environment in general or neighbours in particular.

    13. RECOMMENDATIONS

  13. The Committee is RECOMMENDED subject to the consideration of any outstanding comments received by the date of the meeting that Application No. S.02/05 be approved subject to conditions to be determined by the Director for Environment & Economy but to include:

                  1. Detailed compliance.

                  2. Detailed duration – 5 years.

                  3. External materials to be approved.

                  4. Tree protection measures during construction to be approved.

                  5. Landscaping scheme to be agreed.

                  6. Implement landscaping.

Note: Archaeological Informative.

CHRIS COUSINS
Head of Sustainable Development

Contact Officer: Kevin Broughton Tel: Oxford 810431 File Ref: S.02/05

7 March 2005

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