Agenda item

22/02238/FUL, Beacon Hill School, Rising Sun Cottages, Wallsend

To determine a full planning application from North Tyneside Council for installation of extension of Beacon Hill School to provide 10 additional class bases on site. This is to include associated car park and external landscaping with the intention of future proofing the site for increased student and staff numbers.

 

Speaking rights granted to:

·       Local residents, Jon & Lisa Goodwin

·       The applicant, North Tyneside Council

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report from the planning officers in relation to a full planning application from North Tyneside Council for the installation of an extension of Beacon Hill School to provide 10 additional class bases on site. This is to include associated car park and external landscaping with the intention of future proofing the site for increased student and staff numbers.

 

A planning officer presented details of the application with the aid of various maps, plans and photographs.

 

In accordance with the Committee’s Speaking Rights Scheme a local resident, Jon Goodwin, had been granted permission to speak to the Committee. He objected to the proposed development on the grounds that it would lead to an unacceptable loss of light to properties in Rising Sun Cottages. The two storey building would be located 30 metres to the south of the properties. There were also concerns regarding a loss of amenity caused by increased traffic accessing the site, adding to car parking pressures and compromising highway safety. There were only two vehicular accesses to the site, from Rae Avenue which had been designated a play street, and from Kings Road North which already suffered from inconsiderate parking and behaviour at school pick up and drop off times. Residents had been invited to a drop in event to discuss the proposals on 15 February 2023 when various suggested changes to the design had been put forward including flipping the alignment of the building, relocating the building and creating an access from Mullen Road, but these suggestions had been ignored.      

 

Rachel Coyne of North Tyneside Council, accompanied by Karvind Chohan, addressed the Committee to respond to the speakers’ comments. Rachel described the history of Beacon Hill School and how its provision for 120 children with profound disabilities had developed over the years. Demand for places at the school now exceeded its capacity and the proposed development would replace off site and temporary facilities. The building could not be constructed on the playing fields to the west of the existing building because a culvert ran under the field and sports fields would be lost. Obscure glass would be installed on the north elevation of the building to mitigate against a loss of privacy for residents living in Rising Sun Cottages. The development included a new car park and improved access and during the construction period the car park at the nearby Barking Dog public house would be utilised to provide between 86 and 106 car parking places. 

 

Members of the Committee asked questions of the speakers and officers and made comments. In doing so the Committee gave particular consideration to:

a)        the volume and nature of traffic associated with Beacon Hill School and the adjacent St Bernadette’s Primary School;

b)        the congestion caused by the pinch point at the junction of Kings Road North and Mullen Road;

c)        details of the proposed new car park and access to the site;

d)        the rationale for the two storey section of the building being located to the north of the site, towards Rising Sun Cottages;

e)        the impact of the development, which had been measured to be 26 metres from the northern boundary of the site, on the amenity of residents living in Rising Sun Cottages; and

f)          the extent of the public consultation process undertaken by planning officers and the applicant in respect to the application.

 

The Chair proposed acceptance of the planning officer’s recommendation.

 

On being put to vote the Committee voted unanimously in favour of the recommendation.

 

Resolved that the application be permitted subject to the conditions set out in the planning officers report.

 

(Reasons for decision: The Committee concluded that, having regard to the relevant policies contained in the Council’s Local Plan 2017 and National Planning Policy Framework, the proposed development was acceptable in terms of the principle of development and its impact on the character and appearance of the area, residential amenity, highway safety and biodiversity.)

Supporting documents: