Meeting documents

Application No: V21/02 (detailed)

Proposed Sure Start and Family Centre at Caldecott and Kingfisher Schools, additional car parking and landscaping (supersedes application No. V.18/02 which has been withdrawn), Kingfisher and Caldecott Schools, Caldecott Road, Abingdon

Development and Site (see plan): (download as .doc file)

This application is for a Sure Start and Family Centre on land that currently forms part of the Caldecott School site. The sites of Caldecott Infant School and Kingfisher Special School (see plan) are to be redeveloped for housing with the proceeds going towards funding replacement buildings to consolidate Caldecott Junior School as a Primary School and consolidate Kingfisher Special School onto a single site at Radley Road, Abingdon.

The area available for residential redevelopment will allow for the development of the Sure Start and Family Centre Scheme.

The Family Centre is a service provided by the National Children’s Homes as a service to the County Council. Sure Start is a service provided by the Education Department and this project has received special government funding.

This application for a single storey building supersedes an earlier proposal (now withdrawn) for a two storey structure. It is to be set back from the rear of properties in Caldecott Road which abut the school site. A parking area will be provided between the building and the rear of these properties.

Access to the site would be provided through the proposed housing development area to the east into Blacknall Road. However, until that access is constructed, alternative access would be by means of a temporarily surfaced road to the eastern spur of Caldecott Road which serves the school site.

Relevant Local Plan Policies

Results of Consultations:

Vale of White Horse District Council – have yet to comment.

Abingdon Town Council – no objection. Advise that foundations are put in for two storeys in case there is a need in the future.

Director’s Comments:

The application is for a single storey building to be sited between a consolidated Caldecott Primary School to the west and new housing development to the east. The building would be constructed in timber cladding and render with a slate roof. I have no objections to a building of this scale or design in this area. The building would be located 20 metres from the boundary between the school site and the rear of properties on Caldecott Road. A new car park would be laid out in this intervening area. Access to the site would not be via the existing access to the Primary School but would be through the new housing development proposed to the east. This would give access onto Blacknall Road. Until such access is built a temporary access would be laid out onto the existing access from Caldecott Road which serves the First School. This access would also be used for construction traffic. There are no highway objections to the proposal, although I suggest that a Travel Plan is prepared for implementation in connection with the use of the new building.

Recommendation:

The Committee are RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any objections that may be received by the date of this meeting, to approve the application subject to the following conditions:

1. Detailed compliance.
2. Detailed duration – 5 years.
3. Landscaping.
4. Implement landscaping.
5. Tree protection.
6. External materials to be agreed.
7. Fencing details to be agreed.
8. Surfacing of temporary access to be agreed.
9. Parking area to be laid out/surfaced before building is first brought into use.
10. Travel Plan to be agreed and implemented.

Contact Officer: John Hamilton Tel: Oxford 815584