Planning Applications PDF 1 MB - Meetings, agendas and minutes

HIGHWAYS and PARKING
3.33 The NPPF requires developments that generate significant movement are located
where the need to travel will be minimised and the use of sustainable transport modes
can be maximised, and development should protect and exploit opportunities for the use
of sustainable transport modes for the movement of goods or people.
3.34 Policies 6.1, 6.3, 6.10, 6.11 and 6.13 of The London Plan set out the intention to
encourage consideration of transport implications as a fundamental element of
sustainable transport, supporting development patterns that reduce the need to travel or
that locate development with high trip generation in proximity of public transport
services. The policies also provide guidance for the establishment of maximum car
parking standards.
3.35 Core Strategy policy T1 supports The London Plan. Policy DM J2 of the
Development Management Local Plan set out vehicle parking standards, which brings
them in line with London Plan standards and circumstances when they need not be met.
However, there are no specific parking requirements for schools and each application is
assessed on its own merits.
3.36 The increase in the school from a 1 to a 2 form entry would be incremental on an
annual basis, with one additional class per year from 2014. There have been detailed
discussions between officers and the school around the potential impacts of this
increase in the size of the school on the public highway and parking. In the last couple
of months positive steps have been taken to increase the number of initiatives at the
school to encourage sustainable travel and secure their travel plan on the TFL STAR
accreditation system. Information has been submitted with this application support the
assertion that the school will reduce vehicular travel as 87% of children who attend
currently live within easy walking distance. Further work with the Council's School
Travel Planning Advisor would ensure the level of car use is significantly reduced
further, even with the increase in numbers of children as a result of the proposal. Most
of the new pupils are expected to be from within the White City Estate and therefore
within easy walking distance of the school. The impact on highways as a result of
vehicles parking on-street and dropping off / picking up children is directly linked to the
trip generation mode share through the travel plan, and therefore the travel plan
underpins the whole expansion of the school. Officers are satisfied that the impact of
the development on on-street parking in the vicinity of the site can be sufficiently
controlled through the school's travel plan, particularly given that the increase in pupil
numbers would be incremental.
3.37 Neither the Development Management Local Plan nor The London Plan state
specific parking requirements for D1 uses. The existing ten staff car parking spaces on
site would be reduced to six spaces (one of which would be wheelchair accessible) to
be shared by the school and the replacement Fatima Parish Centre. The removal of
four of the existing car parking spaces would encourage a reduction in car use by staff
and is targeted in the school's travel plan and would be acceptable in accordance with
both sustainable travel policies (London Plan policy 6.13 and Table 6.2) and the fact
that the site has a good level of accessibility at PTAL 4. School visitors with mobility
issues, including blue badge holders, would need to discuss travel arrangements with
the school on an individual basis.