Plans to demolish Peterborough pub and expand school are approved

Peterborough City Council’s Planning and Environmental Protection Committee held their online meeting this week (Tuesday, November 24) with that application the only scheme on the agenda.
The Silver Jubilee, Heltwate, Bretton Peterborough:

Proposal: Permission is sought for the Demolition of the former Silver Jubilee public house, construction of a detached two storey building for early years provision, provision of hard standing play area and change of use of public open space to school playing fields, including the provision of a new public footpath together with associated parking, access and landscaping
Site and Surroundings: The application site comprises two parts. The first comprises the former Silver Jubilee public house and car park which is situated to the south of the application site, and the second part comprises an area of public open space (POS) which extends to the north and west of the former public house.
The public house has been unoccupied for a number of years and is in a poor state of repair having been subject to a large fire which has effectively gutted the building.
There are two historic vehicle access points from Heltwate, which historically served the main car park and service yard. Situated at the end of Heltwate is Heltwate School, which caters for 206 pupils aged 4-19 who have moderate and severe learning difficulties (often referred to as a SEN school).
To the west of the public house is Jubilee Court, which comprises two storey residential accommodation with a communal car park to front. To the south of the public house is more residential development comprising two storey dwellings and a four storey block of flats. To the east of the application site is Bretton Parkway, a 40mph dual carriageway, with employment uses beyond.

The public open space comprises an area of grass with individual and groups of trees, a fixed bench and bin, and a basketball court with a single hoop. There are a number of formal paths that meander through the application site, and there is a watercourse to the western edge of the public open space.

The public open space is accessible from the east from Bretton Way and there is a pedestrian link from Pyhill to the west.

There is also an informal track which runs from Heltwate, through the application site to the public open space. To confirm, this is not a Public Right of Way and is not protected. To the north is a further area of POS with Langley beyond, which comprises two storey residential development fronting the north side of the road, and to the west of the public open space is 

Heltwate School itself with Pyhill beyond, which is host to two storey residential development.

The application site is not situated within a Conservation Area and none of the trees are subject to a Tree Preservation Order.

The Applicant seeks planning permission for the ‘Demolition of the former Silver Jubilee public house, construction of a detached two storey building for early years provision, provision of hard standing play area and change of use of public open space to school playing fields, including the provision of a new public footpath together with associated parking, access and landscaping’.

The proposal would provide a standalone building for the school’s early years and improve the basic facilities available for children with special needs. It would allow Heltwate School to teach its basic curriculum, and would benefit children across the City and wider area.

It would also allow the opportunity to refurbish existing school buildings on the main school site. The number of children attending the school would not increase. The proposed building would have a maximum floor area of 41.3m x 27.5m and be a mixture of single and two storeys.

The two-storey element proposes to stand at 8m in height and the single storey element proposes to stand at 5.6m in height. Secure outdoor play areas are proposed to the north of the building at ground and first floor (balcony), with an outdoor dining area to the east. Materials proposed are buff brick, beige grey openings with sky blue detailing and cladding. The proposed hard standing play area is a multiple use games area (MUGA), with an area of 18.5m x 31m. It would be enclosed by a 3m weld mesh fence and would not be illuminated.

A new pedestrian route is proposed to be created linking Heltwate to Pyhill, east of Jubilee Court and west of the proposed car park. The new site would be served by a dedicated in and out access arrangement, including a secure pick up and drop off area, as well as 25x staff parking spaces. As part of the scheme, the POS would be enclosed by a 2.4m high palisade fence.

The existing basketball is to be relocated within the immediate area of the application site.

To confirm, the existing pavement along the front of the site and the link to a bus stop on Bretton Way to the east of the site would remain and would be unaffected by the development proposed.

The case officer recommended that Planning Permission should be granted with conditions.
Peterborough City Council Planning and Environmental Protection Committee Decision: GRANTED with condition (by majority, 9-2).