Agenda item

To consider report PES/326dof the Head of Economy and Planning.

RECOMMENDATION to PERMIT

The Committee considered report PES/326d of the Head of Economy and Planning which proposed as follows:

Erection of a three storey building to provide teaching facilities, classrooms and practical space for science technology engineering and maths (STEM) provision.

The Group Manager (Development Management) provided a verbal summation of the application and informed the Committee that further plans had been received which had led to the revision of several conditions in the original report, detailed as follows:

The committee was asked to note that the application site address would be changed from Central Sussex College to Crawley College.

The following revisions were made regarding the recommendation and conditions in the committee report:

Revised recommendation (deleting Travel Plan reference):

PERMIT subject to:

• The completion of a Section 106 obligation to secure the College’s submission of and Local Planning Authority’s approval of a masterplan document (including a phasing and delivery strategy for future development across the wider existing College campus) prior to the submission of further planning applications or any development on the wider College campus, and any future planning applications and development on the wider College campus shall be in compliance with the approved masterplan document; and
• Subject to the following conditions:

Additional condition:

21.     Upon the first occupation of the development hereby approved, the applicant shall implement the measures incorporated within the approved Crawley College STEM Travel Plan (revised and submitted on 13 November 2019).  The Applicant shall thereafter monitor, report and subsequently revise the Travel Plan as specified within the approved document unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  To encourage and promote sustainable transport, reduce reliance on the private car and in accordance with policy IN3 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015 - 2030.

Revised conditions:

2. The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out other than in accordance with the approved plans as listed below save as varied by the conditions hereafter:

REASON: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

3. All development works, including any works of demolition, shall take place in accordance with the revised Construction Management Plan (Rev O) dated July 2019 and received on 7 November 2019 unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON: In the interests of highway safety and the amenities of the area in accordance with policy CH3 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015-2030.

4. No development, including site works of any description, shall take place on the site unless and until all the existing trees/bushes/hedges around the site have been protected by the site boundary timber/ply hoarding shown on the Site Layout Plan within the Construction Management Plan (Rev O) dated July 2019 and received on 7 November 2019. Within the areas outside the site hoarding, the existing ground level shall be neither raised nor lowered and no materials, temporary buildings, plant machinery or surplus soil shall be placed or stored thereon without the prior written approval of the Local Planning Authority. If any trenches for services are required in the fenced off areas they shall be excavated and backfilled by hand and any tree roots encountered with a diameter of 25mm or more shall be left unsevered.

REASON: To ensure the retention and maintenance of trees and vegetation which is an important feature of the area in accordance with policy CH3 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015 - 2030.

Officers also requested that as the proposed building materials were being negotiated that Condition 9 be delegated to officers to agree the final wording based on the agreed material samples being provided by the College.  The proposed wording would be drafted as set out below:

9. The materials, fixings and finishes to be used on the building hereby approved shall be:

·         Equitone Natura PRO (pedestrian level only) and Equitone Natura fibre cement cladding materials. The Equitone colours shall be Ash Grey and Anthracite to be laid out as shown on the approved Elevational Study drawings. The Equitone cladding materials shall be attached using the Mechanic Secret Fixing method;

·         Ibstock Staffordshire Slate Blue Smooth brick plinth

·         Aluminium windows – colour?

·         Aluminium soffit, fascia and underside to projecting canopy – colour?

·         Columns to front of building – colour/material?

The development shall be implemented in strict accordance with the approved details unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

REASON: To enable the Local Planning Authority to control the development in detail in the interests of amenity by endeavouring to achieve a building of visual quality in accordance with Policy CH3 of the Crawley Borough Local Plan 2015-2030 and the Urban Design Supplementary Planning Document.

The Committee were further informed that the Section 106 agreement due to be completed by the Local Planning Authority (LPA) and the College would alleviate the LPA concerns regarding the submission of any further planning applications within the College campus which might otherwise come forward ahead of an agreed masterplan being prepared.

Julie Kapsalis, speaking on behalf of the applicant, addressed the Committee in support of the application.  The College’s status as a local stakeholder was described, emphasising that investment in and development of a STEM building would contribute to aspirations for higher student numbers, better qualifications and grades, job creation, and social mobility in Crawley.

The Committee then considered the application.  In response to a query regarding drainage concerns, Officers highlighted condition 14 of the report which detailed that the development would be implemented in line with the Sustainable Drainage Systems document.  Generally, Committee members welcomed the opportunities that a STEM building would offer to the Crawley College campus and to local young people.  The incorporation of solar panels to the building’s design was also noted and praised.

RESOLVED

Permit subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement, together with the amended conditions as set out above, and in report PES/326d.