Agenda item

Watling Ward

Construction of a Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Secondary Free School together with associated hard/soft landscaping, including multi-use games area (MUGA), car/cycle parking, secure line fence/boundary enclosures and associated means of access.

Discussion:

The Principal Planner outlined the application in detail for the construction of a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Secondary Free School together with associated hard/soft landscaping, including multi-use games area (MUGA), car/cycle parking, secure line fence/boundary enclosures and associated means of access.

The Principal Planner brought Members’ attention to the supplementary agenda advice sheet which in the appraisal section of the report, provided updated information regarding potential future use of Minibuses.

The Committee discussed the planning application in detail and Members, agreed and were in favour of a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Secondary Free School within Medway and stated this project was long overdue.

The Committee then asked a number of questions, which included:

Education – the Principal Planner confirmed, if approved, the applicant would want to start work on the site immediately and she believed they would want pupils to be enrolled in September 2025. 

Members requested that pupils, which were currently attending SEND schools outside the area, be given priority admission to this school.  Members were concerned with the number of children that currently attended a SEND school outside of Medway and the amount of time that was spent travelling to and from school. As this school borders other neighbouring authorities, could there be a stipulation that this school would give priority to Medway children.  The Chief Planning Officer confirmed that he would discuss these suggestions with the education department and would feedback responses to Members.

Members were encouraged to see active travel for pupils and wondered if travel mentoring could be introduced.

As young people aged 19-25 years with SEN and Autism were being transported to Canterbury, could this new facility provide assistance for them as well.

Design – the Principal Planner confirmed that the photovoltaic panels could produce nearly 50 kilowatts per metre square.   She also confirmed that the materials used would be fire resistant cladding.

Members wondered whether the parking requirements could remain flexible until they knew the specific needs of the pupils.

The Principal Planner clarified that the fencing had been the main topic of discussion regarding this planning application.  The applicant understood the importance of the children to be kept safe, however, it also needed to look aesthetically pleasing.  Due to pupil’s sensitivity to noise, there would be a        3 metre timber wooden fence constructed to block any noise.  At the front of the building a 3 metre anti-climb fence would be installed.  She explained they could look at the colour and the style of this, however, it would be sensitively designed.

Members considered the multiple entrances to the school a good idea, especially if a pupil was going through an episode, they could be dealt with sensitively.  The two separate entrances would be for Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) pupils and one for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) pupils and both cohorts would be kept separate and would not mix.  

Some trees would need to be pruned during the construction phase, however, additional soft landscaping would be planted once construction was complete.

The Principal Planner confirmed that there would be a number of electric charging points available which would include: 20% active and 80% passive.

Road safety – as there would be up to 197 vehicles at peak times, it was asked if a condition could be added to restrict car travelling to 20mph and no idling cars.  The Principal Planner confirmed that the two cohorts would have different start times so there should not be any vehicles waiting.  The Highways Consultant stated the school could introduce signage for 20mph on-site, however, the roads neighbouring the school had not been considered.  The Chief Planning Officer undertook to discuss this with the Highways Authority.

The Principal Planner also confirmed that a condition for the submission of an Air Quality Emissions Mitigation Statement could be added to any planning approval prior to the commencement of any development.

Decision:      

Approved subject to:

A)       The application being referred to the Secretary of State pursuant to Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2021: and

B)       The imposition of the conditions 1 to 30 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.