Devizes Strategic Development Brief - Wiltshire Council

survey information or details of services the estimate also includes a contingency to allow for
uncertainties (for example, location of existing services in the ground and load bearing capacity of
the site are unknown at this stage). It may be possible to reduce some of the contingency elements
once more detailed information is known. It also assumes there are no major constraints to
development, the school will be accessed directly from the main distributor road running through the
Quakers Walk site and services for the school will be provided to a convenient point on the boundary
of the site.
A1.19 If the option to relocate St Peter’s School to the new school is pursued the costs of certain elements
of the new school will be shared ie core facilities such as hall, staff room, external play areas.
However, the overall project will be greater as more pupils will need to be accommodated. The
proportion of costs for the new school to be attributed to St Peter’s School and developers will be
based on an estimate of pupil numbers. Current estimates are 120 pupils from St Peter’s School; 190
pupils arising from the new developments. This will clearly have implications for the contributions
from individual developers.
A1.20 With both options, it is anticipated that any unforseen windfall sites that come forward involving 25
or more houses will be asked to contribute to the provision of the primary school.
A1.21 For developers it is proposed that the sum payable will be indexed to the relevant BCIS public sector
index, without outstanding sums to be bonded. There should be a sum payable on commencement of
a development with the balance of payment to be payable on completion of the 30-50 th unit
depending on the size of the site. In the short term, the Section 106 Agreement attached to any
permission will be phrased to include options for the two school scenarios, that is, the payment will
be x if a new school is to be built solely as a result of new housing allocations or y if agreement is
reached on relocating St Peter’s School. Clearly once agreement is reached on the preferred option
following the formal and legal procedures to be carried out by Wiltshire Education Authority the
terms of the Section 106 Agreement will be much simpler (see paraA1.25, below).
Phasing
A1.22 It is important that the Primary School is built and ready for occupation as new residents arise. As
several sites are contributing towards the provision of the school it is likely that contributions will
come forward erratically. It is proposed, therefore, that Wiltshire County Council introduce a phased
approach to the construction of the school, work to commence as soon as access to the site is
available.
A1.23 There are obvious benefits if the second option to re-locate St Peter’s School is pursued. A
complete functioning school will be needed before the existing school site closes. Commencement of
the new school can be accelerated by the injection of capital from the prospective sale of the existing
school site.
Other Considerations
A1.24 It should also be noted that there is a separate legal process that governs the establishment of any
new school (or, indeed, any major change to any existing school). The process requires consultation
with all those likely to have an interest in the proposed change. This would certainly include the
existing schools in and around the town. In addition the publication of a public notice with a six
week notice period is required; and, if there are any objections received, a decision by the local
School Organisation Committee which is empowered to make decisions for the whole of Wiltshire.
(In the relatively unlikely event of the School Organisation Committee being unable to reach a
unanimous decision, reference to the national Adjudicator would take place.) The whole process is
likely to take six months from the start of consultation. An informal meeting with the head teachers
Kennet Local Plan 2011
Devizes Strategic Development Brief
Supplementary Planning Guidance March 2004
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