Bell Cornwell Projects
Extension to School in Countryside - Edgbarrow School,
Crowthorne, Berks
Client: Edgbarrow School
Architects: Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Local Authority: Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Bell Cornwell assisted Edgbarrow School in obtaining planning
permission for a new Sixth Form Building, required as a result of
recent and forecasted rises in pupil spaces across the school.
However, the planning application was complicated by virtue of
the site being outside the defined settlement boundary where
development is restricted, and a requirement to avoid the loss of
usable playing field, where liaison with Sports England was
necessary.
The planning application was able to demonstrate the need for the
new building, which could not be reasonably located off site, given
its close relationship with the workings of the school. It also
provided evidence to show how it would comply with the remaining
development plan policies.
As owners of the site the local authority decided that it was
also necessary to defer the decision on the application, as a
departure to the development plan, to the Government Office for the
South East (GOSE). This was to ensure that no conflict of interest
would arise by them approving the application themselves.
Subsequently GOSE deferred the planning application back to the
Local Planning Authority for approval.
Bell Cornwell acted as an advisor to the school, together with
providing the supporting planning statement and liaison with
Statutory Consultees/GOSE.
|
