Agenda item

Report by Head of Planning Services.

To consider and determine the following application:

WSCC/045/18/HA      Outdoor Performance Area.  Downlands School, Dale Avenue, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8LP.

WSCC/045/18/HA      Outdoor Performance Area.  Downlands School, Dale Avenue, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8LP

87.1   Ms Lord stepped down from the Committee for the duration of the meeting in order to attend and speak as the local member.

87.2   The Committee considered a report by the Head of Planning Services, as amended by the agenda update sheet (copy appended to the signed copy of the minutes).  The report was introduced by James Neave, Principal Planner, who gave a presentation on the proposals, details of the consultation and key issues in respect of the application.

87.3   Mr Mark Wignall, Head Teacher, Downlands School spoke in support of the application.  Creative and performing arts are important to children’s development and provide numerous skills crucial to the workforce.  Due to budget cuts many schools have reduced investment in this area and GSCE entries in these subjects have fallen substantially.  Downlands School has already invested in music and dance and the outdoors performance area will add to this.  It will be used as an all-weather social area, a new creative classroom and for performances and events in the evening.  Ofsted has said “the school makes an exemplary contribution to the community” and this facility will be offered for community use.  The Parish Council are supporting the project with a £10,000 grant.  Residents and community groups support the proposals.  There is ample on-site parking for events.  Traffic movements for evening events will be lower than for school events.  The nearest properties are over 150 metres away and have no line of sight.  The amphitheatre will not have amplified sound.  The school will do its best to maintain the old oak tree.

87.4   Ms Kirsty Lord, Member for Hassocks and Burgess Hill South spoke on the application.  Downlands is an ‘outstanding’ school, well regarded in the local community and it takes its community remit seriously.  It also takes its commitment to the arts seriously, providing new music and dance facilities.  The outdoor performance area will serve a dual purpose: it can be used to deliver lessons and performances, and will also provide a social space and dining area.  It will deliver a space for the growing community.  The dance studio is already used by community groups.  Sports facilities are already used in the evenings and at weekends on a similar timetable.  Concerns about noise and light can be dealt with through the conditions proposed.  The site is shielded from housing.  There will be no loss of outdoor space.  The Council should support schools to provide arts provision.

87.5   During the debate the Committee raised the points below and clarification was provided by the Planning Officers, where applicable:

Benefits to the school

Point raised – the proposal would provide a wonderful facility for the school and community.

Response – none required.

Siting, design and impact on trees.

Points raised – What would the impact be on the roots of the established oak tree?  The Chairman clarified that the the Head Teacher has stated that the school is committed to doing its best to maintain the oak tree.

Response – The WSCC Arboriculturist objected because the proposal would result in a significant incursion into the root protection area and this has already been compromised by other development.  Owing to the poor quality of the tree survey submitted, the potential impacts upon the tree are somewhat unclear. Condition 6 – requires that an Arboricultural Method Statement must be submitted and approved before any works take place.  On balance, the relocation of immature oaks and new planting would to some degree offset any negative impact on the established oak tree. 

Lighting in relation to South Downs National Park

Point raised – The South Downs National Park Authority would wish to ensure that there is minimal impact from lighting on the area of the Park.

Response – Condition 5 would control the detail of any permanent lighting.  Temporary lighting used for performances would be directed inwards and downwards to minimise light spill and would only be used during approved hours of use.

Consistency of hours of use with Hassocks Sports Centre

Points raised – Are the evening and weekend hours of use consistent with Hassocks Sports Centre?

Response – Condition 3 allows eight evening events at the school per calendar month, between 18:00 and 21:00 with no use on Sundays or Bank Holidays.  The sport centre is open until 21:00 Monday to Saturday, and until 22:00 3 days per week and until 19:00 on Sunday.  The floodlit pitch can operate until 21:00 Monday to Saturday and to 19:00 on Sundays and Bank Holiday, and the lighting must be switched off after 19.30 on Saturdays and not used at all on Sundays.

87.6   The substantive recommendation was proposed by Mr Patel and seconded by Ltd Cdr, Atkins and was put to the Committee and approved unanimously.

87.7   Resolved – That planning permission be granted subject to conditions and informatives set out in Appendix 1 of the report, as agreed by the Committee.