Planning Applications PDF 1 MB - Meetings, agendas and minutes

number of applications for places, which demonstrate that in both 2012/13 and 2011/12
the school had more than twice as many applications as places, with 79 and 77
applications respectively in each period for the 30 places available.
3.6 As Pope John School provides a faith-based Roman Catholic education it is
considered that the demand for additional places at this school could only be met on
this site or at nearby Roman Catholic primary schools. It is apparent that there is only
one other Roman Catholic primary school in the borough north of central Hammersmith,
which is the Good Shepherd RC Primary School on Gayford Road. However, Good
Shepherd is located a mile southwest of Pope John School. Due to the low number of
Roman Catholic primary schools in the borough and the distance of this school from
Good Shepherd RC Primary School and other Roman Catholic schools in the borough,
it is considered that the provision of additional places at one of the other schools
identified would not meet the needs of children and families in this part of the borough.
Pope John School thereby propose to expand its capacity to accommodate the demand
for places in this part of the borough, and though it is acknowledged that the expansion
to 60 places per year would still fall short of the current level of applications, it is also
acknowledged that the 2-form entry is necessary. The aim of the school is to deliver the
additional places by September 2014, and to phase the increase in capacity over a
number of years by introducing an additional class each year until there are two classes
in each year.
3.7 The applicants have demonstrated that there is significant demand for places at
the school which is heavily oversubscribed. The proposal would enable the school to
effectively double its annual intake and this is supported by the Local Education
Authority, as part of a strategy to expand capacity at popular primary schools in the
borough to meet rising demand. The school is one of only two Roman Catholic schools
in this part of the borough which limits the scope for meeting the specific demand for
Catholic primary school places in the locality. Furthermore, there is a general shortage
of primary school places in the north of the borough. The proposal would therefore
assist in meeting the demand for Catholic primary school places. If planning permission
were to be forthcoming, the applicants would hope to have the development ready in
time for the September 2014 intake. This would provide substantial public benefits as
defined in the NPPF. The proposed school expansion would also be in line with the
aims of White City Opportunity Area Core Strategy Strategic Policy, Strategic Site and
Housing Regeneration Area policy WCOA2 and Borough Wide Strategic Policy CF1
along with Development Management Local Plan Policy DM D1.
3.8 As part of the development it is proposed to demolish both the existing nursery
building in the south eastern corner of the site and the existing Fatima Parish Centre in
the north western corner of the site. It is considered that incorporating the nursery class
within the school would be of benefit in terms of maximising the open space available
on the enlarged school site.
3.9 The existing Fatima Parish Centre was closed by Westminster Dioceses, its
operator, in late May this year due to its poor condition. The Fatima Parish Centre would
be relocated to the existing school hall, this part of the existing school site being
separated off to create its own curtilage and a replacement school hall would be
provided in the new school building. The proposed relocation would position the Fatima
Parish Centre adjacent to the church and presbytery, which is considered to be a more
practical location than the existing separation of the two. At present the location of the
centre on the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and India Way is considered by the