Proposed secondary school All Saints meeting 14 March 2015

Objectives of meeting Information provision and understanding The need for a 4 th secondary school in the Greater Harpenden school catchment area The process that has been followed to date The current situation How planning works at St Albans and District Council Your concerns and issues (on survey forms)

Approach to meeting Brief presentations to ensure everyone has most recent information Question and answer session All questions through the Chair Three questions at a time Not a debate Panel consisting of: Presenters Other Councillors experienced in planning (Mike Wakely, Rosemary Farmer)

Agenda The need for a 4 th school Maxine Crawley The process to date/next stepsDavid Williams SADC Planning processJulian Daly QuestionsPANEL10.20 – 11.00

The need for a 4 th school Maxine Crawley

Harpenden Secondary Planning Area

Parish/AreaPermanentTemporary Reception Places Forms of Entry Reception Places Forms of Entry Harpenden Wheathampstead Redbourn00301 Hemel Rural North Total Primary schools across planning area already meeting increased demand Primary places expansion from 2010/2011

Harpenden Secondary Planning Area Year 7 Demand Year 7 Places 572 Demand Shortfall Forms of Entry By 2019 intake (current Year 2 pupils) 247 place shortfall Harpenden Secondary Planning Area Forecast

Parish/AreaNRAs Harpenden26 Wheathampstead14 Redbourn3 Harpenden Rural1 The Waldens22 Hemel Rural North22 Total88 Children not securing any of their four secondary school preferences Non Ranked Allocations 2015/16

The process David Williams

St Albans Local Plan Site allocation sought 2010/2011 spatial planning analysis Sites A, F and G shortlisted Site F Preferred Meeting Secondary Demand

“Very Special Circumstances” Green Belt planning application Detailed technical analysis 2025 traffic model Planning policy compliance assessment (NPPF, SADC) Land acquisition (deliverability) and viability (cost) assessments Meeting Secondary Demand

Potential Secondary School Sites

Detailed Information

More detailed information

Independent Consultants’ Conclusions Sites A, D and F capable of securing Green Belt planning consent Planning policy compliance assessment: Site A ranked 1st Land acquisition (deliverability) assessment: Site F ranked 1st Viability (cost) assessment: Site F ranked 1st On balance, at the present time and in consideration of the supporting evidence, Site F is identified as the independent consultant’s preferred site

Comparative analysis to Education Funding Agency EFA’s determination of Trust’s application EFA decision re which site route to follow Planning application and consultation Design issues, mitigations, undertakings and planning conditions ✔ ✔ Potential next steps

SADC Planning Process Julian Daly

The Process Receipt and registration of the planning application Consultation/notification and publicity (can include site and press notices, writing to neighbours and the Town Council) Planning Officer consideration: policy results of consultation and notification site visit(s) discussion/negotiation report with an officer recommendation Committee Decision SADC Decision – Referrals Committee HCC Decision -Development Control Committee

SADC Plans Referrals Committee 8 members Committee reflects Council political balance 1 Harpenden Councillor (currently) Councillors – very experienced and impartial

Every application must be seen to be decided on its own merits, in the light of all the material considerations. That’s because all proposals are different – the physical characteristics of the site, the planning history, the precise form and scale of the proposal, etc. The local planning authority may: Grant planning permission unconditionally Grant permission subject to such conditions as they think fit Refuse planning permission” Decision “shall have regard to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the application, and to any other material considerations” The starting points

The legal bits Planning law requires that applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. When the development plan is absent, silent, or relevant policies are out of date, planning permission should be granted, unless: Any adverse effects of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework taken as a whole Specific polices in the Framework indicate development should be restricted

What is the Development Plan The St Albans District Local Plan 1994 Hertfordshire Waste Core Strategy and Development Management Policies 2012 Waste Site Allocations Document 2014 Hertfordshire Minerals Plan 2007

What are the ‘Other Material Considerations’? Policy National Planning Policy Framework National Planning Policy Guidance Supplementary Design Guidance ie Parking Standards Duties under Other Acts Wildlife Protection Views of other consultees Factors on the Ground

Some factors “on the ground” Material Design and visual impact Privacy/daylight/sunlight Noise, smell, pollution Access/traffic Health/ health and safety Ecology, landscape Crime (and fear of) Economic impact Planning history / related decisions Cumulative impact Need for new school places Not Material The applicant / land ownership Private rights (e.g. access) Restrictive covenants Property value Competition Loss of view “Moral” issues Numbers of reps Usually, that a “better” site might exist for the proposal, or that a “better” use exists for the site

Hints and Tips when responding to a Planning Consultation Do Make your comments in writing Make your points based on planning policy and other material considerations Explain your view giving any evidence Remember everyone can see your comments Send a copy to your local district and county councillors Don’t Make your comments before a planning application is registered Just sign a petition or pro-forma letter – these are often given less weight in the planning system Forget to give your name and address

Role of Councillors Decision on Planning Application is made by elected Councillors Councillors must take account of often competing views on a planning application, they should not favour any person, company, group or locality, nor put themselves in a position where they may appear to be doing so Planning decisions should be open, impartial, with sound judgement and for justifiable reasons The process should leave no grounds for suggesting that those participating in the decision were biased or that the decision itself was unlawful, irrational or procedurally improper

Role of councillors (continued) A councillor may be predisposed on a matter before it comes to Committee, provided they remain open to listening to all the arguments and changing their mind in light of all the information presented at the meeting. Nevertheless, a councillor in this position will always be judged against an objective test of whether the reasonable onlooker, with knowledge of the relevant facts, would consider that the councillor was biased.

What happens if the Planning Application is refused? The applicants have a right of appeal (within 6 months of the decision) to the Planning Inspectorate who will appoint a an Independent Inspector to review the decision

Planning documents available

Your questions

Next steps Feedback info from this meeting Wait for decisions by EFA/Herts County Council Arrange update meetings Planning process