Primary school at Land North Western Corner Of David Whitby Way, Basford

What was proposed

The application sought reserved matters approval for a two-storey primary school with classrooms, halls, parking, play areas and scope for future expansion.

“This application seeks approval with respect to all Reserved Matters relating to the appearance, landscaping, layout, access and scale for a primary school within the Basford East Strategic Allocation LPS2 which as granted outline approval under 14/4025N.”

“The school is designed to initially open as a 1-Form entry school accommodating 210 primary school pupils from Reception to Year 6 (210 Pupils). This will comprise of 9 classrooms, main and secondary halls, all ancillary accommodation, access, car parking and play areas (hard and soft). This will then allow the school to be expanded through a second phase to 2 Forms of entry (420 Pupils) with a further 7 classrooms, albeit dependant on future demand.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is within Basford East, beside David Whitby Way and Signallers Croft, and was being used as a housing construction compound.

“The application site is located at the corner of the man access street serving the Onward development (Signallers Croft) and David Whitby Way. To the south and east of the site is the…”

“The site is currently being used as a construction compound for the Signallers Croft housing development. A group of trees and a pond lie adjacent to the northeastern site boundary with Signallers Croft, and landscaped bunding defines the western site boundary along David Whitby Way.”

Officer report

Earlier planning approvals

An outline approval established the principle of up to 490 homes and a primary school, while a later reserved matters approval covered the housing development.

“19/5934N - Approval of Reserved Matters following Outline Approval 14/4025N - Outline application for the erection of up to 490 residential dwellings and a primary school - 2000m2 (D1) a pumping station, substation, recreational open space, ecological mitigation area, internal access routes, ground modelling and drainage works, parking provision, footpaths, cycle routes, landscaping and associated works including details of access at the Basford East site Crewe.”

“14/4025N - Outline application for the erection of up to 490 residential dwellings and a primary school - 2000m2 (D1) a pumping station, substation, recreational open space, ecological mitigation area, internal access routes, ground modelling and drainage works, parking provision, footpaths, cycle routes, landscaping and associated works including details of access at the Basford East site Crewe. Approved subject S106 Agreement - 08-Feb-2016”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding the proposal sustainable and acceptable in principle, design, landscape, highways, residential amenity, trees and drainage subject to matters being addressed.

“The provision of a primary school on this site was secured under outline application 14/4025N and the principle of development is established. Consequently, the proposal is acceptable from a pure land use perspective and would deliver an essential social element of Basford East Strategic site in a sustainable location.”

“Amendments to the design and layout of the proposals have been secured during the course of the application. The development is considered to be acceptable in design and landscape terms when considered against the requirements with CELPS policy SE1, GEN1 of the SADPD and the NPPF”

Officer report

What consultees said

Highways and several consultees raised no objection, while United Utilities and the flood authority sought further information about levels and drainage.

“United Utilities: Object. The appropriate 150mm clearance between Finished Floor Levels (FFL)and surrounding cover levels has not been achieved.”

“CEC Flood Risk (LLFA): Object. Further details are required of the surface water drainage system and suds provision for the school site.”

Officer report

Local concerns

The parish councils supported the school in principle but raised concerns about traffic capacity, pedestrian safety, parking, design, landscaping and future expansion.

“Why are the 30 parking spaces existing on land on the opposite side of the access road to the school not shown within the red line on the application. These spaces must form an integral part of the off-street parking for the school and be used for no other purpose with its own separate access. Understood from the housing developer (Onward) that this was specifically constructed to cater for the school.”

“Crewe Town Council: Concerns raised that the access and parking proposals are not making adequate provision for future expansion and query whether allocation of additional land at…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A ward councillor’s statement was read out, and a parish councillor attended and spoke about the application.

The committee’s decision

The committee unanimously approved the application for the reasons in the reports, subject to conditions and an informative about possible future parking solutions.

“That for the reasons set out in the report and update report the application be APPROVED, subject to the following conditions:”

“Informative: Should parking issues arise as part of Phase 2, then the applicant should investigate further solutions for parking to serve the school.”

Minutes