Agenda item

Report by Head of Sustainable Development (PN5)

 

The report outlines a proposal to change the use of an area of pasture at Coombe Farm, Great Milton to a temporary car parking area for the use of Great Milton Primary School during building work for a new Children's Centre and school extensions at the school.  The car park is to be used for a temporary period only until 31 January 2012.  The site lies within the Oxford Green Belt.  As with the earlier application for the Children's Centre and school extensions this application has generated much interest locally and the responses received from local residents, the Parish Council and the District Council are included along with other consultee replies.  The report also explains that the owner of the proposed site at Coombe Farm has indicated that he is now unwilling to release the land for car park use.  Notwithstanding this however, the school (and landowner) are content for the application as submitted to proceed to a decision.  Accordingly, the comments of the Head of Sustainable Development on the issues raised and the merits of the proposal are included along with the recommendation on the application.

 

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to authorise the Head of Sustainable Development to grant permission for Application R3.0035/10 for the change of use of land from pasture to parking area for use by Great Milton Primary School for a temporary period until 31 January 2012 at Coombe Farm, Chilworth Road, Great Milton subject to conditions to be determined by the Head of Sustainable Development to include the following:

 

1.                  Development to be carried out strictly in accordance with details submitted with the application.

2.                  Temporary permission – permission to cease by 31 January 2012, or completion of the building works for the Children’s centre and school extensions submitted under application No. R3.0188/09, whichever is the sooner.

3.                  Site to be restored to pasture on completion of the development.

4.                  Details of specification for construction of site entrance and surface of the car park to be submitted and agreed.  Works to be implemented prior to building works commencing on school site.

5.                  Hedge protection measures to be submitted and agreed prior to any works commencing on site.

6.                  Details of any lighting provision to be submitted and agreed prior to any works commencing on site.

7.                  Details of a car park management plan to be submitted and agreed prior to any works commencing on site.  Any approved plan shall be implemented for the duration of the development.

8.                  Details of any signage proposed (both at the school and the temporary car park) to be submitted and agreed prior to commencement of the development.

 

 

The Committee considered (PN5) an application for a change of use of an area of land at Coombe Farm, Great Milton from pasture to temporary parking in order to meet a pre-condition imposed on a permission resolved to be granted by the Planning & Regulation Committee in February 2010 for provision of a children’s centre at and 3 extensions to the existing Great Milton Primary School.

 

Nicky Brodie reiterated the strong support of the County Council’s Children, Young People & Families Directorate and the school governors for the redevelopment at the school.  It was vital that the redevelopment took place and funding secured as soon as possible.  The current proposal for temporary parking would enable that to happen and she urged the Committee to approve the application.

 

Sue Mathews, the headteacher at Great Milton school read out a statement on behalf of James Cunningham (Chairman of Great Milton School Governors) who was unable to attend. The statement thanked the owners of Coombe Farm for their support but referred to concerns regarding pressure which had been brought to bear on them by some residents.  The school continued to experience real difficulties and staff had been willing to accept the inconvenience of walking from the temporary car park to the school in order to help provide for the future of the school.  It was vital that these developments went ahead and he asked the Committee to approve the application.

 

Councillor Turner expressed some surprise that the application was being considered as the offer of the use of the land had been withdrawn.  He had been unsuccessful in trying to negotiate the release of space at the recreation field car park but remained supportive of the children’s centre and school development and hoped the scheme would proceed as soon as possible.

 

Responding to Councillor Lilly he accepted that the Parish Council although recognising the need for a children’s centre were opposed to siting it in Great Milton but added that there was a parking problem in the village.

 

Councillor Tanner moved that Application R3.0035/10 be approved as set out in the officers report.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Lilly and carried unanimously.

 

The Committee then discussed the likelihood of meeting the pre-condition regarding parking which had been agreed by the Committee in February. In view of the difficulties experienced so far it seemed equitable that the Committee should have an opportunity to reconsider the merits of allowing the proposed development in Application R3.0188/09 for redevelopment at the school without the pre-condition attached.  It was agreed to convene an extraordinary meeting of the Planning & Regulation Committee.

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       to authorise the Head of Sustainable Development to grant permission for Application R3.0035/10 for the change of use of land from pasture to parking area for use by Great Milton Primary School for a temporary period until 31 January 2012 at Coombe Farm, Chilworth Road, Great Milton subject to conditions to be determined by the Head of Sustainable Development to include the following:

 

1.                  Development to be carried out strictly in accordance with details submitted with the application.

2.                  Temporary permission – permission to cease by 31 January 2012, or completion of the building works for the Children’s centre and school extensions submitted under application No. R3.0188/09, whichever was the sooner.

3.                  Site to be restored to pasture on completion of the development.

4.                  Details of specification for construction of site entrance and surface of the car park to be submitted and agreed.  Works to be implemented prior to building works commencing on school site.

5.                  Hedge protection measures to be submitted and agreed prior to any works commencing on site.

6.                  Details of any lighting provision to be submitted and agreed prior to any works commencing on site.

7.                  Details of a car park management plan to be submitted and agreed prior to any works commencing on site.  Any approved plan should be implemented for the duration of the development.

8.                  Details of any signage proposed (both at the school and the temporary car park) to be submitted and agreed prior to commencement of the development.

 

(b)       to convene a special meeting of the Planning & Regulation Committee on 27 July 2010 at 9 am to reconsider Application R3.0188/09 (approved in February 2010) for the erection of a detached single storey building to provide a children’s centre on the school site together with three extensions to the existing school in the light of difficulties experienced in resolving the temporary parking pre-condition to the original approval.