Planning Application 2015/3070, Weston Green School, Weston Green Road (Weston Green Ward)

This application for a "Detached single storey block of 5 classrooms (173 sq m) to allow an increase in number of children attending from 180 to 256" has opinion divided locally. The 129 comments submitted to the Elmbridge Planning Department were fairly evenly split between 'fors' and 'againsts', although a number of the 'fors' appeared to be from people connected with the school, who live outside the immediate vicinity of the school's location.

It came before the East Area Planning Sub Committee on Monday 30^th November, 2015 when both the Applicant, represented by the school's Head Teacher, Mr Michael Harrison and Mr Alan Oakley (Chairman of the Weston Green Conservation Area Advisory Committee) addressed the room for 3 minutes each. Weston Green Councillors Ruth Bruce and Tannia Shipley also spoke in some detail on various aspects of the application.

The main thrust of the concern expressed by most involved was the impact of the increased traffic. However Surrey County Council as the Highways Authority, whose officers had visited the site on several occasions, raised no objection, leaving Elmbridge Councillors little room for manoeuvre. However the committee was minded to request a comprehensive travel plan from the school before work commences on the new buildings and extra pupils are admitted. This will need to come back for committee approval.

Owing to the number of objections the application has automatically been referred to the main Planning Committee meeting of 5^th January, 2016 at 7.45pm.

The part of the report of the East Area Planning Committee meeting that refers to the above application is reproduced below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015/3070 - Weston Green School, Weston Green Road, Thames Ditton

The Sub-Committee was addressed by Mr. Oakley, an objector and Mr. Harrison, on behalf of the applicant.

RECOMMENDED: THAT APPLICATION 2015/3070 – WESTON GREEN SCHOOL, WESTON GREEN ROAD, THAMES DITTON, BE GRANTED PLANNING PERMISSION, WITH THE CONDITIONS AS SET OUT IN THE AGENDA, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING AMENDED CONDITION, ADDITIONAL CONDITION AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATIVES:

AMEND CONDITION:
5. SCHOOL TRAVEL PLAN
PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY WORK ON SITE A TRAVEL PLAN SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO AND APPROVED IN WRITING BY THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. THEREAFTER THE TRAVEL PLAN SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED, MONITORED AND UPDATED ACCORDINGLY TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

ADD CONDITION:
8. METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION STATEMENT
NO DEVELOPMENT SHALL COMMENCE UNTIL A CONSTRUCTION TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT PLAN, TO INCLUDE DETAILS OF:

(A) PARKING FOR VEHICLES OF SITE PERSONNEL, OPERATIVES AND VISITORS
(B) LOADING AND UNLOADING OF PLANT AND MATERIALS
(C) STORAGE OF PLANT AND MATERIALS
(D) PROGRAMME OF WORKS (INCLUDING MEASURES FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT)
(E) HGV DELIVERIES AND HOURS OF OPERATION
(F) VEHICLE ROUTING
(G) NO HGV MOVEMENTS TO OR FROM THE SITE SHALL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7.30 AM AND 9.15 AM AND 3.15 AND 4.00 PM SCHOOL START AND FINISH TIMES NOR SHALL THE CONTRACTOR PERMIT ANY HGVS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AT THE SITE TO BE LAID UP, WAITING, WITHIN ANY OF THE ADJOINING ROAD DURING THESE TIMES
(H) MEASURES TO PREVENT THE DEPOSIT OF MATERIALS ON THE HIGHWAY

HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO AND APPROVED IN WRITING BY THE LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY.  ONLY THE APPROVED DETAILS SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

ADD INFORMATIVES:
1. THAMES WATER
THAMES WATER WILL AIM TO PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH A MINIMUM PRESSURE OF 10M HEAD (APPROX 1 BAR) AND A FLOW RATE OF 9 LITRES/MINUTE AT THE POINT WHERE IT LEAVES THAMES WATERS PIPES. THE DEVELOPER SHOULD TAKE ACCOUNT OF THIS MINIMUM PRESSURE IN THE DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

2. TRAVEL PLAN
THE APPLICANT IS ADVISED THAT THE TRAVEL PLAN AS REQUIRED BY CONDITION 5 SHOULD FOCUS ON GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE METHODS OF TRAVEL, SEEK A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLE MOVEMENT DURING PEAK TIMES, PROVIDE DETAILS OF STAFF TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AND PARKING AS WELL AS INCLUDE DETAILS OF OTHER MEASURES OUTLINED IN THE TRAVEL PLAN SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE APPLICATION. IN ADDITION THE TRAVEL PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF ANY SUCH METHODS AND TIMEFRAMES FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

[At the request of Members, the Travel Plan be submitted to the Sub-Committee for consideration and approval.]
------------------------------------------------------------------

All main Planning and Planning Sub-Committee reports and minutes are published in full on the Elmbridge Borough Council website.