Agenda item

New 630 place Primary School

The Committee considered a report of the Senior Planning Officer regarding an application for a new 630 place Primary School on the site of the former Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive School, Durham Road, Spennymoor, DL16 6SQ (for copy see file of Minutes).

C Shields, Senior Planning Officer provided a detailed presentation of the application which included a site location plan, aerial photograph, site photographs and visualisations of the proposed new school.

Councillor Jopling Moved approval of the application which she considered would be of great benefit to Spennymoor.

Councillor Molloy informed the Committee that the proposed development neighboured his electoral division.  While he had received no representations on the application, he had some reservation that the new school would have no facility for drive in and drop off and asked why no consideration had been given to providing this.  Durham Road already had issues with parking and Councillor Molloy considered these would be exacerbated by the proposed school.  Councillor Molloy also asked how the timings for the school would conflict with the two other schools in the area.

Councillor Boyes informed the Committee that he supported the application but considered that a drop off/pick up point should be incorporated into the proposed development.

The Senior Planning Officer informed the Committee that the proposed car park for the school was slightly oversize for the school itself.  The issue of providing parent drop off/pick up was that this encouraged parents to use their cars to drop children off rather than using an alternative.  The application had been accompanied by a Travel Plan to encourage use of alternative modes of transport and there was provision on site for cycle and scooter storage and bus stops outside of the school site.

Councillor McGaun informed the Committee that he supported the application but considered that a condition relating to parking or school timings with neighbouring schools was vital to enable the Committee to make an informed decision.

P Harrison, Highway Development Manager informed the Committee that a car parking management plan may be a solution.  A pick up and drop off facility would require a significant redesign of the proposal and would lead to a lot of dead space.  A car parking management plan could lead to an area of the car park being set aside at pick up and drop off times.  The Senior Planning Officer informed the Committee that the applicants could be requested to revisit the Travel Plan to look at the operating times of the neighbouring schools.

Upon a vote being taken it was

Resolved:

That the application be approved subject to an amendment to the Travel Plan to include working with neighbouring schools on start and finish times.