450-place school expansion at Landers Field, Stanley, Chippenham

What was proposed

The application proposed teaching space for 450 additional pupils and 39 staff, delivered in three phases, with new access, parking and cycle facilities.

“To support the additional teaching space, a new vehicular access is to be created from Stanley Lane, along with parking for 47 cars, with 2no. disabled bays and 4no. electric vehicle charging points. The proposed new car parking area will be for staff and visitor parking only, with parent drop-off remain within the existing school car park.”

“The development is expected to be carried out over three phases, in a timeframe that would meet the planned growth at Chippenham. Phase 1 is to provide capacity for up to 150 pupils from September 2027, with the timing of subsequent phases dependent on how quickly new housing at Chippenham is delivered. The submission sets out the three phases, extracted below (l-r, phases 1- 3), with the first phase to include all works to provide the access and car/cycle parking:”

Officer report

Planning history

There was no relevant site history, but outline permission existed for up to 150 homes on the opposite side of Stanley Lane.

“None of relevance to the application site. However, in June 2025 outline planning permission was granted for the erection of up to 150 dwellings on land on the opposite side of Stanley Lane, under reference PL/2023/08640. At the time of preparation, no Reserved Matters application has been submitted (the deadline for the submission of RMs being June 2028).”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the education benefits and planned growth needs outweighed limited conflicts on sustainability, heritage and biodiversity, subject to safeguards.

“Less than substantial harm to the setting of listed buildings has been identified. That harm is regarded as being at the lowest end of the scale is outweighed by the significant public benefits associated with the expansion of a school which is in turn supporting the planned growth of Chippenham. Accordingly, and subject to conditions, the test set out in paragraph 215 of the NPPF has been met.”

“At paragraph 100, the NPPF offers broad support for new education development, and advises that great weight should be given to the need to create, expand or alter early years, schools and post-16 facilities when determining planning applications.”

Officer report

What people said

Four representations raised light pollution, seagull nuisance and worsening traffic, while the cycle group withdrew objections if specified cycle links and parking were secured.

“Concerns over potential for light pollution – current school buildings have number of bright lights which are left on at night and cause impact on living conditions of neighbours. • Concerns over seagulls that can be seen at current school site and the nuisance they cause, as well as the potential for the boggy application site to make the issue worse.”

“A 3m wide shared walking/cycling links on the North side of London Road between Hardens Lane and Stanley Lane • A cycle link on the south side of London Road from the eastern end of the existing shared path to Roman Way • Conditions be imposed to secure 50 extra covered student cycle parking spaces in phase 2, a further 50 in phase 3, and covered staff cycle parking spaces in phase 1 (at a ratio of 1 space per 10 staff)”

Officer report

Who spoke

A Senior Project Manager from the council’s Strategic Asset and Facilities Management Team spoke for the applicant during public participation.

Members’ questions and debate

Members questioned BREEAM, cycleway design, specialist SEND provision, demand for places and Landers Field, while officers explained the planning balance and site constraints.

“Members of the Committee then had the chance to ask technical questions of officers. Details were sought about why the proposed development was recommended for approval when it was not in accordance with Core Policy 41 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy to achieve relevant Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent standards for non-residential buildings.”

“Details were sought about how proposed off site infrastructure improvements to expand a footpath, and create a cycleway, would be achieved on Hadens Lane given that the width of the junction with London Road was restricted by residential property. In reply, Highways officers explained that that aspect was still subject to detailed design, but the road would be narrowed if required to achieve a suitable footpath width and cycleway.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The Chairman, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, proposed approval, and the committee resolved to grant permission subject to payments and conditions.

“Following technical questions the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Stewart Pal mén , proposed that the application be approved for the reasons outlined in the report.”

“Subject to the payment, and commitment to payment where appropriate, of the following contributions towards off-site infrastructure, then, planning permission be GRANTED subject to conditions.”

Minutes