SEND resource base at St Paul's C Of E Junior School, Wokingham

The site and its setting

The building would sit south of the swimming pool and west of the school building, within playing fields on an established educational campus.

“Site Description 1. The site lies within St Paul’s CoE school, off Oxford Road, Wokingham, which forms part of an educational campus shared with Walter Infant School and Nursery. The wider surrounding is characterised predominantly by residential development, which provides a suburban setting to the application site. The campus comprises play areas, school playing fields, outdoor heated swimming pool and parking.”

“The proposal would provide an educational facility (Autism Spectrum Disorder Resource Base) for up to 16 pupils, which would comprise teaching rooms, sensory room, staff room and supporting facilities. When fully operational, the unit would generate a need for 6 additional members of staff. Principle of Development Policy Context: The starting point for decision making is the development plan.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

The site has a long history of approved school, swimming pool, classroom and school extension applications, with one later certificate refused.

“Application number Description Decision S/1/64 Outline application for school Approved 26 August 1964 S/3/71 Swimming Pool Approved 12 May 1971 S/12/71 Terrapin Classroom Approved 12 September 1971 S/5/72 Terrapin Classroom Approved 20 June 1972 S/6/73 Terrapin Classroom and Sanitation unit Approved 9 April 1973 08569 Temporary Classroom Approved 28 July 1978 19629 Renewal of 08569 Approved 2 August 1983 32044 Temporary Classroom Approved 19 January 1989 42473 Renewal of…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because specialist local SEND provision and community benefits outweighed the playing-field policy conflict and Sport England objection.

“In this case, it is considered that material considerations of substantial weight exist which justify approval of the development, notwithstanding the identified policy conflict and the Sport England objection. The proposal would deliver specialist SEND educational accommodation to meet an identified and pressing local need, within an established school site, and in a location that allows pupils to access provision close to their homes.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A supporting speaker said the proposal would provide local SEND education, reduce travel and deliver educational and social benefits within the community.

What members discussed

Members discussed playing-field capacity, referral, access for wheelchair users, parking, landscaping, fencing and the possible effect on SEND delivery.

“Councillors asked about access from the newly controlled gate at the front of the site, noting that it was quite long and narrow. The potential impact on students using wheelchairs was questioned. Officers stated that the access was longer due to the building location. The landscape was reasonably flat, and the applicant had worked with the school and specialist teams to meet SEND requirements.”

“Sufficiency of parking was discussed. The Highways Officer commented that the school might have greater demand than the parking standards currently required. Additional parking spaces were proposed, albeit to be managed alongside the service access. It was noted that current informal parking in the service area would need to be vacated in the event that an emergency vehicle required access. The school was very accessible to both the town centre and the railway station.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application subject to the listed conditions and informatives, an additional carbon-reduction condition and Secretary of State referral.

“Additional Condition 18 to secure carbon reduction measures set out within the Sustainability Statement submitted as part of the application.”

“RESOLVED: That application 260425 be approved subject to conditions and informatives outlined in Appendix 1 (pages 25 to 33), additional condition 18, and subject to referral to the Secretary of State via the National Planning Casework Unit in compliance with the statutory consultation and notification requirements as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2024.”

Minutes