Hasmonean School Plans - Planning Officers recommend a refusal

Barnet Council Planning Officers recommend a refusal of Hasmonean School's plan to build a new combined school and sports facilities on Green Belt land in Copthall Open Space.

The prime reason for the recommendation to refuse planning permission is to protect the integrity of Copthall's Green Belt space. Originally Hasmonean School proposed to take 15 acres of public open land on which to build a combined school and sports facilities. The land would have been closed off to the public and surrounded by a security fence.

The planning committee are due to meet on February 22nd. The final decision will be taken by a majority of councillors on the committee. Let's hope they follow the planning Officer's recommendation.

Here is the text of the refusal:

1. The proposed development, by reason of its location and its excessive

footprint , represents inappropriate development within the Green Belt which

would cause substantial harm to the fundamental intention and purposes of

including land in the Green Belt and the applicant has failed to demonstrate

very special circumstances necessary to warrant an exception to the National

Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (paragraphs 88-90), Policy 7.16 of the

London Plan (2016), Policy CS7 of Barnet’s Core Strategy and Policy DM15

of the Barnet Development Management Policies Document.

2. The proposal would result in the loss of a significant area of public open

space without replacement, to the detriment of the amenities of users of this

space along with neighbouring occupiers contrary to the provisions of Policy

7.18 of the London Plan (2016) and Policy CS7 of Barnet’s Core Strategy .

3. The proposed development would result in the permanent net loss of the

Copthall South Fields Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation

(SLINC) involving the loss of 1.2 hectares of woodland and 3.0 hectares of

grassland resulting in potential negative impacts to wildlife species. The

proposal would therefore be contrary to the aims of the National Planning

Policy Framework (NPPF) in aiming to achieve sustainable development and

the obligations on public bodies to conserve and enhance biodiversity. The

proposal would also be contrary to policies 7.19 of the London Plan 2016 and

policies CS7 of Barnet’s Core Strategy and Policy DM16 of Barnet’s

Development Management Policies.

4. The proposed development would result in the direct loss of a substantial

numbers of trees of significant amenity value protected by a Tree Preservation

Order. The loss of these trees would result in a severe and demonstrable

impact upon the character and appearance of this part of the Green Belt and

would be severely detrimental to the visual amenities of the area. The

proposal is therefore considered contrary to the provisions of the NPPF,

Policy 7.21 of the London Plan and policies CS7 of Barnet’s Core Strategy

and Policy DM15 of Barnet’s Development Management Policies.

5. The application does not include a formal undertaking to secure the planning

obligations which are necessary for the development to be found acceptable.

The application is contrary to London Plan Policies 5.1, 5.2, 6.2, 6.3, 6.9, and

8.2, Policies DM15, DM17, CS7, CS9, CS13 of the Barnet Local Plan Core

Strategy and Development Management Policies Document (adopted

September 2012), the Barnet Planning Obligations (adopted April 2013).

The full report can be read here: http://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s38084/Hasmoneon.pdf