Primary school with nursery at Burgess Hill Northern Arc, Burgess Hill

What was proposed

The application proposed a two-form-entry primary school with nursery, special support centre, parking, sports facilities, landscaping and associated infrastructure.

“Site: Burgess Hill Northern Arc, Land N And NW Of Burgess Hill, Between Bedelands Nature Reserve In The East And, Goddard's Green Waste Water Treatment Works In The West…”

“Proposal: Reserved matters application to consider access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale pursuant to application DM/21/3279 (original reference DM/18/5114) for parcel P1.2 comprising the construction of a primary school with nursery and special support centre, car parking, multi-use games area, playing fields, landscaping and associated infrastructure.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 2.18-hectare site lies beside Isaacs Lane and Holmbush Avenue, within the built-up area, and had been used partly as a roadworks compound.

“The site is approximately 2.18 hectares and is located to the eastern side of Isaacs Lane and to the south of Holmbush Avenue (Eastern Bridge and Link Road). While the site was originally an area of open agricultural land interspersed with trees and hedgerows, it has recently been used as a site compound for the Eastern Bridge and Link Road works, with the compound located to the northern part of the parcel and grassland to the southern part.”

Officer report

Earlier planning decisions

The wider development received outline permission, later amended through two applications, and the adjoining Eastern Neighbourhood Centre also received reserved matters approval.

“The applications most relevant to this application are as follows: Outline Planning Permission 8.3 The original outline permission for the site was granted under application DM/18/5114 on the 04/10/2019 for: Comprehensive, phased, mixed-use development comprising approximately 3,040 dwellings including 60 units of extra care accommodation (Use Class C3) and 13 permanent gypsy and traveller pitches, including a Centre for Community Sport with ancillary facilities (Use…”

Officer report

Town council and residents

No third-party letters were received, while the town council supported approval subject to improved drop-off, parking and travel-plan arrangements.

“Burgess Hill Town Council Observations 6.1 Recommend Approval: provided the inadequate provision of a drop-off area and parking places would be reviewed; to deliver a much-improved travel plan, to better integrate the development with Burgess Hill and better reflect and support all residents travelling to the school and nursery. Not only those travelling from local Brookleigh but from areas of Burgess Hill that are further afield.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The senior planning officer introduced the application and highlighted changes in the agenda update.

The committee vote

The committee voted unanimously for the recommendation as amended, with 12 members in favour.

“The Chairman took Members to a vote on the recommendation contained in the report and as amended in the Agenda Update sheet, proposed by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Avery. These were agreed unanimously, with 12 in favour.”

Minutes

The decision

Reserved matters consent was granted subject to the conditions in the appendix and the agenda-update amendments.

“Joseph Swift, Senior Planning Officer, drew Members attention to the changes contained in the Agenda Update sheet, including amendments to wording in the report and condition 1, and the addition of condition 17 and 18.”

“It is recommended that reserved matters consent is granted subject to the conditions set out in Appendix A.”

Minutes