Agenda item

14/02863/FUL: St John`s Marlborough, Granham Hill, Marlborough, SN8 4AX

Minutes:

Public Participation

Mr Alan Titcombe, resident, spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Gordon Hutt, Chairman of Ducks Meadow Residents Association, spoke in objection to the application.

Mrs Debbie Lorraine, Ducks Meadow Residents Association, spoke in objection to the application.

Mr Martin Cook, Assistant Head Marlborough St John’s, spoke in support of the application.

Miss Ellen Trevaskiss, pupil, spoke in support of the application.

Mrs Karen Davis, applicant and Chief Financial Officer of Marlborough St John’s, spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Justin Cook, Marlborough Town Council, spoke in objection to the application.

 

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application which recommended the application be granted. Key issues were stated to include the design of the proposed building and any impact on nearby residential amenity and traffic impacts, particularly off-site parking. Details were provided of late representations in objection and support of the application.

 

A correction was made to the officer report, which had stated “To meet current parking standards the proposal should be looking to meet a maximum number of around 126 spaces for staff and pupils for the sixth form requirement of 1 space per 4 students”. It was stated that the proper ratio is 1 space per 10 students applied to the new build, which with spaces for associated staff and parents gives a requirement for 14 spaces.

 

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions of the officer. Further clarification was sought on national and council parking standards, and details that would need to be provided in an updated school Travel Plan, which it was confirmed would need to be completed by March 2015. In response to queries over the location of the proposed build, it was stated that the presence of a gas pipe running under the site limited where construction of the new extension could take place.

 

Members of the public then had the opportunity to present their views to the Committee, as detailed above.

 

The local member, Councillor Nick Fogg, then spoke in support of the application, while expressing disappointment that a Travel Plan to resolve parking concerns had not already been completed.

 

Cllr Jemima Milton, adjoining Division Member, then spoke in support of the application, highlighting the need for the school to expand and its importance to the town and wider area.

 

A debate followed, where the procedure for completion of the Travel Plan was discussed, and that it would be beneficial for the Marlborough Division Members to be consulted on its development.

 

Parking capacity on the site was raised, as well as the impact of students parking in the nearby residential streets, with options such as more spaces on the site, overflow parking sites, designated spacing for students and a resident’s parking scheme discussed. Members were informed of a former Wiltshire Council education facility near to the site had existing parking facilities, and senior officers had been contacted to determine whether this could be utilised by the school, with a positive initial response, which would provide flexibility and more time to seek a more permanent parking solution.

 

Members discussed local and national policy in respect of school expansion, and it was noted that the planned extension was to be funded by a government grant which would be lost should it not be developed quickly, but that the concerns of local residents also needed to be carefully addressed. In respect of the design and its impact on the nearby residence, it was confirmed rear facing windows would be obscured glazing and above eye level.

 

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

 

Resolved:

 

That planning permission be GRANTED, subject to the following conditions:

1

The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

 

REASON:  To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

 

2

No development shall commence on site until details of the materials to be used for the external walls and roofs have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

REASON: In the interests of visual amenity and the character and appearance of the area.

 

3

No part of the development hereby approved shall be first brought into use until a Green Travel Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The Travel Plan shall include details of implementation and monitoring and shall be implemented in accordance with these agreed details. The results of the implementation and monitoring shall be made available to the Local Planning Authority on request, together with any changes to the plan arising from those results.

 

REASON: In the interests of road safety and reducing vehicular traffic to the development.

 

4

No part of the development hereby approved shall be first brought into use until the additional parking areas shown on the approved plans have been laid out in accordance with the approved details. These areas shall be maintained and remain available for this use at all times thereafter.

 

REASON: To ensure that adequate provision is made for parking within the site in the interests of highway safety.

 

5

Before the development hereby permitted is first occupied the first floor high level windows in the rear elevation shall be glazed with obscure glass only and the windows shall be permanently maintained with obscure glazing in perpetuity.

 

REASON: In the interests of residential amenity and privacy.

 

6

No development shall commence on site until a drawing showing proposed habitat enhancements within the site has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The approved enhancements shall be carried out in the first planting season following the first occupation of the new building. 

 

REASON: In the interest of conserving and enhancing the biodiversity of the site.

 

7

No exterior lighting shall be introduced to light the building.

 

REASON: In order not to interfere with the bat populations which use the tree line along the adjacent disused railway line.

 

8

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans: 3749/102A, 3749/103B, 3749/104B, 3749/105A and 3749/106B, received 28/04/14 and 3749/101C, 3749/303A, 3749/304A and 3749/305B received 16/05/14

 

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

 

9

INFORMATIVE TO THE APPLICANT:

The applicant should be aware that there are several records of slow worms and grass snakes in close proximity to the school site and it would therefore be prudent to engage an ecological clerk of works during the construction phase to ensure that reptiles are not at risk from construction processes.

 

10

INFORMATIVE TO THE APPLICANT:

The applicant should engage a suitably qualified consultant ecologist to assist with the design and layout of the habitat enhancements required by condition no. 6, to ensure its likely effectiveness and appropriateness within the site.

 

11        INFORMATIVE TO THE APPLICANT:

A Wiltshire Council former education facility lies nearby the application site. The closed site is still owned by Wiltshire Council and has parking facilities for over 20 cars. The applicant is advised to investigate with Wiltshire Council whether this site could be made available to St John's to provide additional parking spaces until it is required for some other use by the Council.

 

It was resolved that the Marlborough Division Members should be consulted during the preparation of the Green Travel Plan required under condition 3 of the planning permission.

 

Cllr Fogg left the meeting after the conclusion of this item.

Supporting documents: