About this page
How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works
These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:
Policy background
- Relevant national policy or regulations
- National or regional trends
- Local situation and needs/li>
- How we have dealt with this issue in the past
- The thinking behind the policy
Policy options for the new Local Plan
We may suggest a variety of approaches:
- Keeping existing policy as it is
- Making small changes
- Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
- Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future
Policy option analysis
- A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.
View the Topic Paper on Healthy and Vibrant Communities for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.
Explore the policy
Select a section below to read more.
9.307 The current policy seeks to only allow development where there is a primary school within a reasonable distance and that has capacity to accommodate new or additional children that will be generated by the proposed development. The policy seeks to ensure that travel to primary schools is not undertaken by car and does not extend outside the local area. However, the current policy does not take into account early years education and childcare provision and secondary school provision.
9.308 The evidence shows that there is a shortfall of early years education and childcare provision in some areas and therefore it is important to ensure that new development does not put unacceptable pressure on existing services and can provide for the additional population.
9.309 As stated in the Planning Obligations SPD CIL forms the main mechanism for funding further development relating to school places. However, Section 106 is utilised to fund more strategic needs for schools as larger developments will have a greater impact on school capacity.
9.310 Option 1 proposes to retain the existing policy to ensure that any new development does not put pressure on existing primary schools that cannot be appropriately accommodated and therefore, that residents in settlements can access their local school.
9.311 Option 2 proposes to widen the scope of the existing policy by including early years education and childcare provision and secondary school places. This would ensure that occupiers of new development can access their local school and recognises that the need exists for all ages of children generated by development being able to access education locally. School places must be accessible via a sustainable means of transport.
Option A
Retain the existing policy
Advantages of Option A
The policy has been proven to ensure that development is only acceptable where there is access to primary school places for children generated by the proposed development.
Disadvantages of Option A
The policy only relates to primary schools and does not take account of early years education and childcare provision or secondary school provision.
Option B
Update the policy to include secondary school provision and early years education and childcare provision. The proposed policy would require that where residential development is permitted there is early years education and childcare, primary school and secondary school places within a reasonable distance. Sufficient spare capacity must exist or additional capacity be created with the expansion of schools.
Advantages of Option B
The proposed changes will take account of all areas or levels of education. There is a known deficit of early years education and childcare places and the cumulative impact of development including on allocated sites could also put pressure on secondary school places.
Disadvantages of Option B
The policy could restrict the location of development and result in viability problems.