Site address:                      Land east of Cherwell School South Site, Marston Ferry Road, Oxford

Proposal:                             Erection of two, two storey modular buildings for temporary school premises at 'Swan School', provision of external associated facilities together with car and cycle parking for a period of no more than two academic years.

Recommendation:

The West Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.    approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to

a.  the satisfactory completion of a legal agreement or unilateral undertaking under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers to secure the planning obligations set out in the recommended heads of terms which are set out in the report; and

b.  the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report

c.   and grant planning permission;

2.    agree to delegate authority to the Acting Head of Planning Services to:

a.  finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary;

b.  finalise the recommended legal agreement or unilateral undertaking under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers as set out in the report, including refining, adding to, amending and/or deleting the obligations detailed in the heads of terms set out in the report (including to dovetail with and where appropriate, reinforce the final conditions and informatives to be attached to the planning permission) as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

c.   issue the planning permission.

The Committee considered an application (18/03313/FUL) for planning permission for the erection of two, two-storey modular buildings for temporary school premises at 'Swan School', provision of external associated facilities together with car and cycle parking for a period of no more than two academic years.

The Planning Officer presented the report. She advised the Committee that a number of suggestions for changes to the proposals had been made by the Cherwell Travel Action Group and that these were addressed in the committee report.

Kay Wood (the Headteacher for The Swan School) spoke in favour of the application.

The Committee noted the following points:

·       The location close to the permanent school, and ambitious targets in the travel plan, means sustainable travel habits can be promoted and established for both staff and students.

·       Wardens would be present at the junction with Marston Ferry Road to oversee the operation of the junction and to check parking or drop-off permits.

·       The travel plan coordinator would monitor the use of the 20 car parking spaces that would be marked for Swan School to check they are being used by staff with permits.

The Committee discussion centred on safety concerns for cyclists using the cycle lane as a result of the development proposals. They felt that it was incumbent on a local authority which actively promoted cycling and walking to take all reasonable steps to ensure those activities were undertaken safely.

Notwithstanding the officer advice that the Highways Authority did not require any additional measures to address concerns about the safety of cyclists using the cycle lane the Committee agreed to include the following informative:

“That the applicant should consult with the Highways Authority as to whether signage should be provided at the site entrance where vehicles cross the cycle route as an additional safety measure to protect cyclists”.

After debate and on being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application with the addition of the informative detailed above.

The West Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1.     approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to

a.  the satisfactory completion of a legal agreement or unilateral undertaking under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers to secure the planning obligations set out in the recommended heads of terms which are set out in the report;

b.  the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report;

c.   and the informative listed above; and

d.  grant planning permission;

2.     delegate authority to the Acting Head of Planning Services to:

a.  finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary;

b.  finalise the recommended legal agreement or unilateral undertaking under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers as set out in the report, including refining, adding to, amending and/or deleting the obligations detailed in the heads of terms set out in the report (including to dovetail with and where appropriate, reinforce the final conditions and informatives to be attached to the planning permission) as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

c.   issue the planning permission.