Issue - meetings
Canary Wharf College
Meeting: 16/12/2015 - Development Committee (Item 5)
Proposal:
Construction of a 1,705 GIA sq. m. 3-storey primary school to accommodate 280 pupils and approximately 30 staff.
Recommendation:
That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to conditions and informatives.
Additional documents:
Decision:
Councillor Marc Francis (Chair) for the remaining items of business
Update report tabled.
On a vote of 3 in favour 0 against and 4 abstentions, the Committee RESOLVED:
That planning permission be GRANTED at Site south west of the junction of Glenworth Avenue and Saunders Ness Road, E14 3EB for the construction of a 1,705 GIA sq. m. 3-storey primary school to accommodate 280 pupils and approximately 30 staff (PA/15/00360) subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Committee report and the update report.
Minutes:
Councillor Marc Francis (Chair) for the remaining items of business
Update report tabled.
Jerry Bell (Applications Manager, Development and Renewal) introduced the item for the construction of a 1,705 GIA sq. m. 3-storey primary school to accommodate 280 pupils and approximately 30 staff.At the last meeting of the Committee, Members deferred the application for a site visit to inspect the site and assess the impact of the proposal.
Jane Jin (Team Leader, Planning Services, Development and Renewal) presented the report explaining the site location and the surrounds as well as the proposed start and end hours for the new school, outside those for the nearby St Luke’s School.
It was noted that the site visit took place earlier in the week. At which, the impact on the highway from the school run (drop - off) from St Luke’s School was observed noting that that it only took a matter of minutes. Due to this as well as the staggered start times, it was considered that impact on the highway would be minimal
It was also noted that further representations had been received about the location of the refuse storage site in terms of proximity to habitable rooms. To address this, residents had suggested alternative locations for the store. However, given the issues with these options, Officers continued to favour the recommended option given the mitigation measures and the conditions.
In response to questions about the proposed refuse location, it was stressed that the proposed mitigation including screening should protect visual amenity and ensure that there would be no undue impact on residential amenity.
On the question of school size and pupil numbers, it was noted that this was regulated by the Department for Education guidance and they had raised no objections to the scheme. The planning regime was silent on this issue. Nevertheless, Planning considered that there would be adequate space for the 280 pupils. The scheme had been designed to accommodate such numbers.
It was also confirmed that there was a presumption in favour of education development in national policy and this carried significant weight. With this in mind, Officers have carefully assessed the issues and considered that there were no material issues that outweighed the presumption in favour.
Officers also answered questions about the highway impact from the scheme. It was confirmed that Officers had assessed the traffic impact and the measures in the travel plan and considered that the impact on the highway would be acceptable.
On a vote of 3 in favour 0 against and 4 abstentions, the Committee RESOLVED:
That planning permission be GRANTED at Site south west of the junction of Glenworth Avenue and Saunders Ness Road, E14 3EB for the construction of a 1,705 GIA sq. m. 3-storey primary school to accommodate 280 pupils and approximately 30 staff (PA/15/00360) subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the Committee report and the update report.
Meeting: 25/11/2015 - Development Committee (Item 6)
Proposal:
Construction of a 1,705 GIA sq. m. 3-storey primary school to accommodate 280 pupils and approximately 30 staff.
Recommendation:
That the Committee resolve to GRANT planning permission subject to conditions and informatives.
Decision:
Update report tabled.
Councillor Mahbub Alam proposed and Councillor Shah Alam seconded a motion that the planning application be DEFERRED for a site visit.
Accordingly on a vote of 4 in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions it was RESOLVED:
That the planning application be DEFERRED at Site south west of the junction of Glenworth Avenue and Saunders Ness Road, E14 3EB (PA/15/00360) for a SITE VISIT to enable Members to better understand the impact of the scheme on the area
Under Procedure Rule 17.6, Councillor Peter Golds requested that it be recorded that he voted against this decision.
Minutes:
Councillor Marc Francis (Chair) for the remaining items of business
Update report tabled.
Paul Buckenham (Development Control Manager, Development and Renewal) introduced the proposal for the construction of a 1,705 GIA sq. m. 3-storey primary school to accommodate 280 pupils and approximately 30 staff.
The Chair then invited registered speakers to address the Committee.
Sandra Ireland and Kathy McTasney (local residents) spoke in objection to the proposal, objecting to:
· The lack of benefits for local children. Given this, it was questioned whether the funding would be better spent extending the existing schools for local children.
· Impact on neighbouring amenity – due to noise and nuisance from the scheme especially during the construction phase, the proximity of the waste storage for the scheme to residents properties.
· Duplication of existing services.
· Design was too big for the site
· Impact on the highway from the school runs.
Anna - Marie Hulme (resident) and Sarah Counter (Applicant’s agent) spoke in support of the scheme. They spoke about the quality of the existing Canary Wharf College and felt that the plans would allow other children to benefit from such facilities. The highway impact would be minimal as detailed in the technical assessment. It was expected that most of the pupils would walk to the school. The scheme would be car free. The measures to mitigate the impact from the school run on the highway were noted.
The plans would be in keeping with area. The new building would be of a high quality design and be a decent distance from the nearest neighbouring properties. The measures to mitigate the construction impact were noted.
In response to questions from Members, Ms Counter described the colour of the proposed brick work. She also explained that that all 50 staff come on foot or public transport that was in their contracts of employment, places are offered by distance to the school and 100 children were in temporary accommodation and it was intended that they would be moved to the new site. She also answered questions about the expected student profile for the college and also their admissions policy. However, at this point, Officers advised that Members must only take into account the material planning matters in considering this application.
Jane Jin (Team Leader, Development and Renewal) gave a presentation on the application describing the site location and surrounds, the proximity to listed buildings and the St Luke’s School. Consultation on the scheme had been carried out and the issues raised were set out in the presentation slides and the Committee report.
Members were advised of the proposed facilities, expected pupils numbers, the layout of the scheme, the design, height and massing that would accord with the surroundings and the measures to prevent disturbance from the play ground.
In terms of amenity, the scheme met the tests in policy for sunlight and daylight and there would be no direct overlooking from the school. Therefore, no adverse impacts on amenity were anticipated.
The application had been accompanied by ... view the full minutes text for item 6