Three classrooms and office at Barnwell Middle School, Stevenage

“Proposal : The provision of a single storey modular building to create 3 additional classrooms and an office, with hard landscaping to and around the building; Site A.”

“04/00513/REG3 5-bay double mobile classroom unit 17.11.2004 NOOBJ”

“14/00414/FP Installation of 2-class mobile classroom (relocated from Barnwell School East Campus) 12.12.2014 PER”

“Paragraph 135 of the NPPF (2024) sets out that planning decision should ensure create places with a high standard of amenity for existing and future residents. Paragraph 124 of the National Design Guide states that “Good design promotes quality of life for the occupants and users of buildings. This includes function – buildings should be easy to use. It also includes comfort, safety, security, amenity, privacy, accessibility and adaptability”.”

“The Council’s Arboricultural and Conservation Manager has assessed the application and initially advised that the loss of one of the London Plane trees is unacceptable in amenity terms. However, following discussions, they agreed that the mitigation measures proposed in order to achieve a 10% biodiversity net gain on site, would, in his opinion, be acceptable if planning permission was granted.”

“DC88 5. CONSULTATIONS 5.1. Herts County Council as Highways Authority 5.1.1 The applicant has submitted 3 separate applications (SV/22564/2024; SV/22536/2024; SV/22537/2024) to identify different potential locations for the new classroom building, the design of which will not change. Bearing in mind these are all within the school complex, it is considered that any of these identified locations will not result in any significant highways implications.”

“Environmental Health 5.2.1 No objection subject to conditions. Arboricultural and Conservation Manager 5.3.1 I have carefully analysed this application, inspected the site and can confirm that I do not support the proposed development. I believe it would be a substantial loss, from an Arboriculture viewpoint to completely remove the large, mature, category A London Plane tree T4.”

“A recorded vote* was taken on the application and it was RESOLVED that planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions and informatives:”

“(1) Where noise emitted from the proposed plant and machinery will not contain tones or will not be intermittent, the 'A' weighted sound pressure level from the plant and machinery (including non-emergency auxiliary plant and generators) hereby permitted, when operating at its noisiest, shall not at any time exceed a value of 10 dB below the minimum external background noise, at a point 1 metre outside any window of any residential and other noise sensitive property, unless…”