Agenda item

River

Reserved matters application for the construction of a 2 storey 1- form entry primary school and nursery school with 2- form entry core facilities together with a multi-use games area and sports facilities; temporary landscaping; transport infrastructure and access roads.

Discussion

The Head of Planning outlined the planning application and informed the Committee that if it was minded to approve the application, the applicant had requested an amendment to the wording of proposed conditions 2 and 6 asking for the submission of details prior to commencement of groundworks rather than within 6 months of the date of the permission due to delays in the project and difficulties getting contractors on site to undertake works due to Covid-19.

The Head of Planning then outlined the planning application in detail and drew attention to the supplementary agenda advice sheet which contained the reason for proposed condition 11 which had been omitted from the committee report and a new condition 13 to require a scheme of heritage interpretation to be incorporated within the development.

The Committee discussed the application and whilst satisfied with the application, expressed concern as the loss of the pedestrian crossing facility from the Station Car Park across Corporation Street to the Quakers Building. Whilst it was appreciated that a new pedestrian crossing had been provided further along Corporation Street close to the entrance/exit to the Railway Station, it was considered that once the school was built at Riverside, pupils coming from Rochester would likely use the former crossing point which was no longer controlled by lights.

In response, the Head of Planning and Principal Transport Planner advised upon the various access points to the proposed school and the Principal Transport Planner advised that discussions were ongoing within the Directorate concerning the uncontrolled crossing in Corporation Street.

Decision:

Approved with conditions 1, 3 – 5, 7 – 10, and 12 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report and conditions 2 and 6 amended, condition 11 corrected and new condition 13 as follows:

2.      Prior to commencement of above ground works, a plan indicating the positions, design, materials and type of boundary treatment to be erected around the listed wall will be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The boundary treatment shall be completed in accordance with the approved details before the building is first occupied and shall thereafter be retained.  

Reason: To ensure that the appearance of the development is satisfactory and without prejudice to conditions of visual amenity in the locality, in accordance with Policy BNE1 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

6.         Prior to commencement of above ground works, details of the methodology for conservation work to the listed roman wall, in accordance with the recommendations set out in the Conservation Management Plan dated March 2020 and Schedule of Works and Specification dated April 2020, including a schedule of works, shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The approved details of the works to the listed roman wall, pursuant to this condition, shall be implemented prior to the first occupation of the school and shall thereafter be retained and maintained in accordance with the approved details. 

Reason: To avoid any irreversible detrimental impact on the listed building in accordance with Policy BNE17 and BNE18 of the Local Plan 2003.

11.       Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, a scheme for protecting the proposed development from noise that implements the measures described in the noise assessment dated January 2018 shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This should include an addendum to the existing noise assessment to include the multi-use games area, omitted from the original document. All works which form part of the approved scheme shall be completed before any part of the development is occupied and shall thereafter be maintained in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: In the interests of residential amenity and to accord with Policy BNE2 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.

13.       Prior to commencement of above ground works, full details of a scheme of heritage interpretation to be incorporated within the development shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The details submitted pursuant to this condition shall include location, design, dimensions and materials. The approved details of the method(s) of interpretation approved, pursuant to this condition, shall be implemented in full accordance with the approved details prior to the occupation of the school and shall thereafter be retained and maintained in accordance with the approved details.

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory visual appearance and to ensure the development makes a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness in accordance with the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework and in accordance with Policies BNE18 and BNE21 of the Medway Local Plan 2003.