Agenda item

This application proposes the construction of a vehicle parking area on an area of land at the front of the school building and in the southern corner of the Robert Wilkinson Primary School site. [Strensall] [Site Visit]

Members considered an application for the construction of a vehicle parking area on an area of land at the front and at the southern corner of the Robert Wilkinson Primary School site.

Officers circulated an update to Members, which was attached to the published agenda after the meeting. Officers added that a publicity consideration which should have been included in their report, should read, “The application was publicised by way of letters to internal and external consultees, local residents and a site notice was posted, which expired on 22.7.10”. They informed Members that a response from the Council’s Drainage Engineer had been received stating that the site was in a low flood risk area, but that a condition could be attached to ensure that surface water drainage works would be carried out on the car park, if the application was approved.

Members made several suggestions including;

• An alteration to condition 6 to allow the reseeding to take place during the next planting season following the development.
• That the double yellow lines around the car park entrance should be extended, due to the existing bottleneck with Leyfield Close.
• That if the application was approved, that a construction management condition be added to ensure the safety of children during building works.

Additionally, Members commented and questioned that;

• The application did not include a fence to separate the car park from the rest of the school grounds, to ensure safety of the children.
• Whether the school travel plan accommodated the additional parking spaces provided by the application.

Representations were heard from a representative of Strensall Parish Council. He agreed with Members that the double yellow lines needed to be extended at the entrance to the car park. He also said that he hoped that the car park would reduce the need for on street parking around the school.

Councillor Moore suggested that if the application was approved that a construction management condition be added, along with a recommendation to the Highways Department to extend the double yellow lines to 10 metres around the entrance to the car park.

Councillor Taylor added that condition 5  in the Officer’s report, relating to tree planting, needed to be strengthened to protect the trees over an extended time, for example five years.

RESOLVED:             That the application be approved subject to the recommendations listed in the Officer’s report with two amended conditions to read;

                                    “Within two months of the car park hereby approved being brought into use, the surface of the existing car park at the school shall be removed and re-soiled to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority. The area shall be seeded in the next planting season after the area is resoiled. Protective fencing shall be provided around the seeded area until it becomes properly established.”

                                    REASON:      In the interests of visual amenity

                                    “Before the works hereby approved commence on site, a construction management scheme to ensure the safety of staff, pupils and visitors throughout the development shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme.”

                                    REASON:      In the interests of public safety.

REASON:                  In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority the proposal, subject to the conditions listed above, would not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance, with particular reference to:

                                    Principle of the development

                                    Visual impact

                                    Trees

                                    Residential amenity

                                    Highway Safety

                                    Flood Risk

                                    As such the proposal compiles with national planning guidance contained within Planning Policy Statement 1 (“Delivering Sustainable Development”), Planning Policy Statement 25 (“Development and Flood Risk”), and Policies GP1, GP4a, NE1, ED1 and ED11 of the City of York Development Control Local Plan.