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V28-301 : W8102/29 - KIRKLEY HIGH SCHOOL, KIRKLEY RUN, LOWESTOFT

Application for construction of a gymnasium with new vehicular access and car parking.

The report of the Corporate Director (Regeneration and Environment) concerned an application from Suffolk County Council on which the Council were being consulted. The Community Services Department found the original plan unacceptable due to access being via an unadopted rear accessway which would need to be widened to allow two vehicles to pass and overcome visibility problems. The scheme had since been revised to correct this. The Environment Agency advised that ground testing would be necessary for landfill gas, and if found the design of the building would need to prevent the build-up of gas pockets.

Local Plan policy generally supported new recreation facilities subject to design, no significant loss of residential amenity or natural features and satisfactory access and parking. The main hall would be a single storey building 7.5 metres high to the eaves and 11 metres to the ridge. The site had been amended during the course of the application to move the building further south-east, however the building would be as close as 33 metres to the back of the nearest house and 12 metres to its rear garden fence. The hall would also be to the south of the houses, creating shadows in the gardens at certain times of the year, and although the Suffolk Design Guide of 35 metres relationship between houses would be met, the new building would be on a much larger scale than a domestic house.

The gym club would also draw traffic at a point closer to four or five dwellings than at present, and residents were concerned at the possible increase in vehicle movements close to three elderly persons' bungalows. It would be difficult to re-site the building more favourably without affecting the line of trees along Birds Lane. The building could not be made lower or it would not meet the standards required by Sport England and for lottery funding. Less traffic disturbance could be achieved by widening the first section of Birds Lane and taking the access off here instead, but this would be at some cost to up to three trees.

Negotiations had taken place with the County Council to attempt to reduce the impact. The building would now be altered so that the outside would be covered with pale green cladding with a pale grey roof to blend in with the surroundings. It should be possible to take the access further down Birds Lane to reduce the disturbance to the properties as the traffic would not pass directly past them. Subject to that, the Director recommended approval.

Before commencement of the debate Councillor Baxter declared receipt of correspondence on the above application.

RESOLVED

That Suffolk County Council be informed that this Council has no objection to the grant of planning permission to application W8102/29, subject to the access being taken further down Birds Lane to reduce disturbance.

(Councillor Hinton declared an interest in the above item and left the room during the debate).


Volume 28 Minute 301

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