Provision of a single mobile classroom.

The application was approved in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation, with amended conditions.

(Provision of a single mobile classroom)

The Senior Planning Officer gave a presentation on the application.

In accordance with the criteria for public speaking Mr S Morehead spoke in support of the application.

In accordance with the Council’s constitution, the local ward member, Councillor Kema Guthrie, submitted a statement which was read to the committee.

The statement contained the following principal points:

·        There were significant parking problems at Sutton primary school caused by a large amount of school traffic;

·        The school car park became full quickly in the morning which caused an adjacent road to become congested with parked cars.

·        There was significant concern with the volume of traffic accessing the school which also had an environmental impact. The school should investigate sustainable travel options to protect the environment and minimise disruption to local residents.

In the committee’s discussion of the application the following principal points were made:

·        It was queried why a planning application was required given the provisions of the Caravan Act 1968.

·        It was noted that the provision of the mobile classroom would not increase the numbers of pupils at the school but was intended to improve the facilities. There was sympathy for the traffic problems around the school but it was not felt that this was relevant to the application and was an issue present at a number of local schools.

·        The use of mobile classrooms at schools had been long established and appeared to be necessary at the primary school due to the failure of capital bids to provide a more permanent improvement to facilities.

·        It was queried what would occur at the end of 5 years of the permission.

·        It was suggested that a condition requiring the school to undertake a school travel plan, to encourage sustainable transport, be attached as a condition to any permission granted.

In response to the questions the Senior Planning Officer and Lead Development Manager commented:

·        The mobile classroom exceeded the definition of a caravan in the Caravans Act 1968. Caravans did not require planning permission but the proposed mobile classroom was considered development due to its dimension.

·        After 5 years a further application would be required if the mobile classroom was still required.

The Lead Development Manager commented that the concerns raised regarding traffic affected all schools in the county. The school had been designed and built to incorporate the possibility of a future extension but the capital funding had not been forthcoming. The application was in accordance with policy.

Councillor David Summers proposed and Councillor Bernard Hunt seconded a motion that the application be approved in accordance with the printed recommendation and an additional condition for the school to undertake a travel plan. The motion was carried unanimously; 14 votes in favour.

RESOLVED: That planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions and any further conditions considered necessary by officers named in the scheme of delegation to officers.

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

Reason: Required to be imposed by Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2.     The development hereby approved shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the approved plans (drawing nos. 292-01 & 292-02) and the schedule of materials indicated thereon.

Reason: To ensure adherence to the approved plans and to protect the general character and amenities of the area in accordance with the requirements of Policy SD1 of the Herefordshire Local Plan – Core Strategy and the National Planning Policy Framework.

3.     The mobile classroom hereby permitted shall be removed from the site within five years of the date of this permission with the land being remediated and restored to its former condition in accordance with a scheme of work including timescales submitted to the Local Planning Authority and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

Reason: To protect the character and appearance of the locality given the temporary nature of the building in accordance with Policy SD1 of the Herefordshire Local Plan – Core Strategy 2011 – 2031, policy 6 & 7 of the Sutton St Nicholas Neighbourhood Development Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

                INFORMATIVES: