Agenda item

This application had been reported to the Planning Committee as the site was owned by Worcestershire County Council (WCC). As such the application fell outside the scheme ofdelegation to Officers

Officers presented the report and in doing so, drew Members’attention to the presentation slides on pages 35 to 47 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack.

The application was for Birchensale Middle School, Bridley Moor Road, Redditch, B97 6HTand sought extension to its existing buildings and external works.

Officers drew Members attention to the Update Report and clarified that there would be an increased intake of up to 30 additional student a year going into year 5 and there would not be an immediate intake into years 6-8. When the new students had progressed through the school, and new pupils had joined into year 5, the overall school placement capacity would eventually increase by 120 spaces by 2027. Officers also drew Members attention to the additional Condition 10 detailed on page 6 of the Update Reports pack, to be added to the original Recommendation.

The Site Location Plan outlined on page 39 of the Site Plans and Presentations pack identified the proposed areas of development. The application proposed a two-storey extension to the southern classrooms which would generate an additional 6 Classrooms. There would further be an extension to the school Hall to accommodate the increased number of pupils during lunchtime, and an extension to the existing sports hall.

Due to the extension of the sports hall and the increased school capacity, the carpark area would also be refurbished and extended. Officers detailed that parking spaces would increase from the current 34 up to 52 spaces. Officers further detailed that the carpark expansion encroached on to some Primarily Open Space, However, the area in question was not normally used for sport or recreation and as the carpark expansion would be necessary for the development, the loss of the small area of open space was deemed acceptable.

Officers outlined that the Councils policy was to support the Local Authority to provide sufficient school spaces for children. Officers further detailed that WCC Highways and NWWM raised no objections subject to suitable Conditions being attached.

Officers clarified the following points after questions from Members.

• That the school would remain open during the development, and it was not planned to be completed during the school holidays.
• That there was no Condition for a construction management programme to be submitted prior to the commencement of the development.
• The carpark extension would be a tarmac finish with appropriate drainage.

Members then debated the application.

Members discussed incorporating a construction management plan as an additional Condition to the recommendation, this was to ensure a safe environment for the children with as little disruption to their education as possible.

Members also discussed adding a Condition for “Wheel Cleaning” to be mandatory for construction work, this was to ensure the disposal of mud onto the local highways would be mitigated.

Members were satisfied that the loss of the green area was necessary for the development and the need to provide more school places for children.

On being but to a vote it was:

RESOLVED that

having had regard to the development plan and to all other material considerations, planning permission be GRANTED subject to;

1. Conditions 1-9 as outlined on pages 29-32 of the Public Reports Pack;
2. The additional Condition 10 outlined on page 5 of the Update Reports pack;
3. An additional Condition 11 requiring a construction plan be submitted prior to the commencement of the development;
4. An additional Condition 12 requiring a wheel cleaning policy to be implemented.