Planning – Application Comments

Comment Date: Wed 21 Feb 2024

PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL CONSULTEE COMMENTS FOR A PLANNING APPLICATION.

APPLICATION SUMMARY
PLANNING APPLICATION: 24/00013/MOR
ADDRESS: Plymstock School, 29 Church Road, Plymstock, Plymouth PL9 9AZ
DESCRIPTION: Pre-application for retention of former construction access and conversion of former construction compound to overflow/visitor car park

CASE OFFICER: Sam Lewis (Planning Officer)
Development Management, PCC Strategic Planning & Infrastructure, Floor 2 Ballard House PL1 3BJ

CONSULTEE: Gary Lester (Transport Officer)
PCC Strategic Planning & Infrastructure, Transport Planning Team, Floor 2 Ballard House PL1 3BJ

Date: 21st February 2024

PRE-APPLICATION COMMENTS:
The Local Highway Authority (LHA) would not wish to raise any objections in principle to this pre-application proposal for a Change of Use of the site compound area, to a car park, and the permanent retention of the temporary vehicle entrance & exit off Stentaway Road. With the former construction compound associated with previous extension to the school, under planning application 18/02096/FUL, being converted to a permanent overflow/visitor car park.

The proposed overflow/visitor car park is also proposed to be used as a temporary site compound for any future development of the school. The proposed permanent use for overflow and visitor parking would apparently also mitigate existing issues of, known student safeguarding, traffic management, community sports access, local community parking nuisance, and accessibility issues, all inherent to the site from current parking provisions.

Any full planning application for the Change of Use of the site compound to a car park, should include an up-to date Travel Plan. The Travel Plan should demonstrate all of the usual travel impacts and travel patterns, along with means of mitigation to encourage sustainable travel options. In respect of previous expansion of the school, and the current car parking issues mentioned above, how overall the proposed additional overflow and visitor car parking provisions help and compare to the Councils indicative car parking provision for secondary schools of: - 1 space per teacher + 1 space per classroom for support staff and visitors.

Regarding retention of the vehicle entrance exit in Stentaway Road, it would be necessary to preserve inter-visibility between a pedestrian, and an emerging vehicle. Therefore, no overgrowth or other obstruction shall be allowed to grow or be placed above the height of the existing front boundary wall or 900mm above the level of the public footway whichever is the greater. Being immediately adjacent to the public footway, gates must not be fixed across the opening in the boundary wall, where the wall opening should be made good and thereafter maintained.

As a permanent fixture the entrance margin into the proposed car park between, the back/rear edge of the public footway, and the existing fence and gates that is setback/inset into the site, must be hard surfaced to ensure a level transition between the two and that no loose material would be tracked or overspill out onto the footway.


SUMMARY:
Subject to the above comments the Local Highway Authority would not wish to raise any objections in principle to the proposed Change of Use of the site compound area, to a car park, and the permanent retention of the temporary vehicle entrance & exit off Stentaway Road.


Gary Lester
Transport Planning Officer
Officer authorised to sign on behalf of the Service
Director for Strategic Planning & Infrastructure