Proposed Development of Secondary School,
Pioneer Site, Stoke Poges, Bucks SL2
Planning application ref: 13/00271/FUL
THE PROPOSAL
Change of use from offices to use as secondary school,
incorporating caretakers residence. Extensions to the existing
building to provide 2,008m2 (40%) of additional floor space.
Alterations to landscaping, access and parking provisions.
As part of the planning consultation process you are required
to respond to the planning application with your concerns and
reasons for objection.
1.
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3.
4.
5.
NEED
GREENBELT
HARM TO AMENITY
TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• 1. NEED
• The need for a school has been identified in Slough and
NOT South Bucks, which already provides some of the
best secondary and grammar schools in the Country; this
is why many people choose to live in Stoke Poges.
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Stoke Poges Primary School has 400 Pupils
283 families surveyed.
222 returns i.e, 78.5% response (This is massive)
Answers to the single question: As a parent with a child at The Stoke
Poges School, would you consider sending your child to the proposed
new Khalsa Academy, once they reach secondary age?
Yes = 15 which is 6.75%
No = 207 which is 93.25%
Ethnic mix
52% white British or Other white
48% from ethnic minorities. A truly multi cultural school
• CLEARLY THERE IS NO DEMAND FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL IN
STOKE POGES
Figures kindly provided by Malcolm Bridges, Head, Stoke Poges Primary School
• 60% of Slough school places are taken up by pupils from
outside of the Slough of area.
• 2% of School places in Slough are taken up by Pupils from
South Bucks
• South Bucks already provides some of the best schools in
the Country both Grammar Schools and Secondary
Schools
• SB Residents will lose their right to free home to school
transport for their preferred school if this school is
allowed to go ahead
• SB residents human rights will be affected
2. GREENBELT
• This proposed development for a school which will
attract 850 pupils and approx. 70 teachers from outside
of Stoke Poges and South Bucks; is considered to be
harmful as it is set in a sensitive Green Belt site, adjacent
to the Framewood Road Conservation area and in the
heart of the rural village of Stoke Poges.
• The proposal would result in the loss of a beautiful 11
acre green belt site; the loss of green fields and openness
• If permitted this proposal would result in further erosion
of the green belt in favour of urban development in order
to meet the need of Slough
• Green Belt status should be protected to prevent urban
sprawl from Slough.
• The provision of over 2000 m2 of additional floor space, a 40%
increase, along with alterations to the landscape to provide
extensive outdoor sporting facilities will harm the Green Belt
and views in and out of the Conservation Area.
• In order to protect this green belt site, previous planning
permission for office use in 1993 imposed a legal agreement
which specifically restricted further development on the site.
• That permission also restricted the numbers of employees
permitted on that site to 175 (although it was acknowledged
that it could accommodate 400).
• DfE have referred to the fact that the site currently has the
potential to accommodate 1,000 employees without
planning permission.
• The normal occupancy level adopted by commercial
property agents is 1 person per 120 sq ft - this would equate
to 404 people.
• The constraints of the site i.e. 180 parking spaces and the
absence of any public transport would be a major deterrent
to any potential company wishing to employ more than 200
employees.
• 3. HARM TO THE AMENITY
• 3.1 The development would be detrimental to the character and appearance
of the conservation area. It will harm the peace and tranquillity currently
enjoyed by neighbouring residents. This will be due to significantly increased
traffic, noise and light pollution and general disturbance caused by the daily
movements of up to a thousand people and the recreational and sports
activities undertaken both during schools hours and at evenings and
weekends.
• The views into and out of the Conservation Area will be harmed by the
proposed extensions on this elevated site.
• This will result in the urbanisation of the rural character of the Conservation
Area with the provision of footpaths, street lighting etc.
• 3.2 The elevated position of the buildings and the fact that
the land falls away to the south to a stream to the south of
School Lane; the land rises again quite sharply up to Farthing
Green Lane and Plough Lane so any noise arising from the
school; the daily movement between buildings, and
recreational and other outside activities will be projected
across the valley to the detriment of residents in the vicinity
and further afield.
• 4. TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC
• The proposed development is not sustainable. There is practically no
public transport and 98% of the pupils and staff will travel by car and
coach from Slough and West London. Significant increases in traffic
will have a major impact on the daily lives of residents in Stoke
Poges and those who live in the rural lanes of Wexham Street and
Hollybush Hill; the additional traffic will impact on the heavily
congested road outside Wexham Park Hospital with restricted width
and parking on both sides of the road.
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The current offices employ approximately 50 members of staff
The maximum no of employees since the site was developed is 175
There is no public transport in this rural village
The development will result in additional traffic and congestion from
Transporting 850 pupils daily from Slough 70 Teachers and other staff
• No pavements on Hollybush Hill from Wexham Street
westwards down to the proposed site, will divert
pedestrians/school children through the narrow rural lanes of
Hockley Lane, Chapel Lane and Farthing Green Lane to the rear
of the site
• Conflict with traffic on Wexham Street in the narrow rural lane
and outside Wexham Park Hospital accident and emergency
entrance
5. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• There are vacant premises in Slough, including the Arbour vale
School (currently earmarked for a football club), which would
serve the local need and facilitate the use of public transport.
• 98% of the pupils are travelling from Slough and the
neighbouring towns
• Offices in Slough which would be more suitable remain vacant
• The Arborvale School (next to the existing Khalsa Primary
School) remains empty
• Slough is not meeting the educational needs of its pupils
• Slough puts priority of the football club over education
• CONCLUSION:
THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE NO BENEFIT
TO THE VILLAGERS OF STOKE POGES; THIS
DEVELOPMENT WOULD RESULT IN
SUBSTANTIAL HARM TO THEIR QUALITY OF
LIFE AND WILL AFFECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS
OF RESIDENTS
Contact
• Richard Regan-Planning Officer
Planning Department
South Bucks District council
Capswood
Oxford Road
Denham UB9 4LH
Richard.Regan@southbucks.gov.uk
• Michael Gove MP
Secretary of State for Education
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
ministers@education.gsi.gov.uk or
office@shca.org.uk
• Dominic Grieve MP
Beaconsfield Constituency
Conservative Association
Disraeli House
12 Aylesbury End
Beaconsfield Old Town
Buckinghamshire
HP9 1LW