Agenda item

Officers drew Members’ attention to page 8 of the Committee Update, which detailed the finalised puffin crossing maintenance contribution of £20,900.00. This figure was based on a 20-year maintenance period. The Committee Update was published on the Council’s website and distributed to all Planning Committee Members prior to the meeting commencing.

Officers presented the report and in doing so highlighted that the application was for the demolition of the existing building and the erection of a new teaching facility for Bromsgrove School together with associated car parking, landscaping, drainage, and access, at the former Altered Images site on the Worcester Road.

Officers drew Members’ attention to the presentation slides, as detailed on pages 86 to 97 of the main agenda pack.

The applicant was proposing to demolish the existing building and construct a 2.5 storey building to provide sixteen classrooms with associated ancillary rooms intended predominantly for sixth form students. The wing at the rear would serve functions such as career/university advice, and student break out space for group work.

The proposed teaching facility for Bromsgrove School would support the main senior school campus at Worcester Road. The school was planning to increase boarding accommodation on the main school campus by altering some existing teaching accommodation. Therefore, replacement teaching facilities were required.

The building had been designed to be in keeping with the Bromsgrove School campus and would be finished in red brick, with stone detailing beneath a pitched slate roof together with landscaped grounds including tree planting on the frontage to further enhance Worcester Road.

In terms of access, it was proposed to relocate the existing vehicular access and construct a new puffin crossing to safely link the existing school campus on the south-east side of Worcester Road to the site.

BDP17.1 of the District Plan referred to the Town Centre Zone as an area where significant change and conservation was needed to promote future development. All new development was required to be appropriate, in terms of scale, quantity and use, to the character and function of the Town Centre.

The former gym facilities had been closed for some time following on from a decline in gym membership and other gym facilities operating within the Town. The demolition of the building would enable the opportunity to provide a building that would add a visual enhancement to the Town including the provision of additional landscaping to soften the appearance of this part of Worcester Road.

Paragraph 131 of the NPPF (2023) stated that the creation of high quality, beautiful and sustainable buildings and places was fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve. Good design was a key aspect of sustainable development, creating better places in which to live and work and helped make development acceptable to communities.

Officers further stated that it was considered that the scheme would not conflict with the existing retail core of the Town Centre and would support the wider enhancement of the Town Centre. The proposal would complement the linear nature of the Town Centre providing an accessible, attractive, active frontage, sympathetic to the local character of the area along Worcester Road. In addition, the provision of additional formal tree planting would be an enhancement and improve the visual appearance of this area of the town. As such the proposal would be in accordance with Policy BDP17 of the District Plan, and the NPPF.

There were no objections from the Conservation Officer. The site did not fall within the Town Centre Conservation Area; however, it was near Thomas Cookes House and 87 & 87A Worcester Road, all Grade II listed. Sections 66 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 required special regard to be had to the desirability of preserving the listed building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possessed.

Officers referred to Highways Matters, specifically the new puffin crossing, new access, and the associated Traffic Regulation Order, as detailed on pages 74 and 75 of the main agenda pack.

The Committee then considered the Application which officers had recommended that Planning Permission be granted.

In response to questions from a Committee Members, Officers clarified that Bromsgrove School would be responsible for the maintenance of trees within the site, and that solar panels would be installed, as shown on the ‘Bird’s eye view of building’ slide on page 97 of the main agenda pack.

With regards to a question raised about Condition 3 – details of the form, colour, and finish of the materials; officers stated that they had a good background of working with Bromsgrove School. Bromsgrove School had a good reputation for providing attractive buildings with a good quality material finish. Any potential breaches of conditions would be looked into on a case by case basis.

Officers further clarified that EV chargers came under Building Regulations and was not a planning consideration.

Members raised the following query, which was should there be a Condition to include the provision of (two) motorcycle parking provision and a Travel Plan, as referenced within Worcestershire County Council (WCC), Streetscapes Design Guide?

The Worcestershire County Council (WCC) Highways officer apologised and stated that there should have been a Condition for (two) motorcycle parking provision; and that Bromsgrove School did have a School Travel Plan and that Highway officers would work with the school to ensure that their existing School Travel Plan was updated.

The Chairman took the opportunity to confirm that Committee Members were happy with the inclusion of the additional Conditions, as detailed in the preamble above. Members confirmed that they were.

On being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED that

a)    delegated powers be granted to the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Leisure to determine the application following the receipt of a suitable and satisfactory legal mechanism in relation to the following matters:

i)                 A financial contribution of £4,500 for Traffic Regulation Order for puffin crossing.

ii)               A financial contribution of £20,900.00 for puffin crossing maintenance.

iii)              A planning obligation monitoring fee.

b)    delegated powers be granted to the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Leisure to agree the final scope and detailed wording and numbering of Conditions as detailed on pages 78 to 83 of the main agenda pack; and

c)     two additional Conditions, as agreed by Planning Committee Members, as follows:

i)       the provision of (two) motorcycle parking spaces, and

ii)     that the existing School Travel Plan be updated.