Explanation OS7

New schools and extensions/alterations to existing schools

10.29

It is anticipated that the review of schools in Knowsley (see chapter 2 – “Key Issues and Influences”) could have a significant effect on the provision of education in Knowsley. It is possible that new schools will be proposed and that some existing schools will be amalgamated, either on existing sites or on new sites.

10.30

The Council intends to ensure that, where new schools are proposed, or significant extensions to existing ones, these are located so as to be of maximum accessibility and convenience to the communities which they are intended to serve. Sites should be accessible by all members of the community, including people with disabilities, and a choice of means of transport, including public transport, cycling and walking. This will mean taking into account the catchment area of the schools, and the need to enable children and parents, where practicable, to walk to school without crossing major roads and other significant physical barriers. These requirements will also apply to other educational or training uses such as sixth form colleges and adult educational centres.

10.31

Policies set down elsewhere in this Plan will ensure that the design of new school buildings, any associated structures and landscaping will be of high quality, incorporating features to deter and prevent crime, and any security fencing should be of an appropriate type to the area. An important factor is the relationship with the adjacent area, particularly in terms of visual amenity and impact on neighbours (light pollution, noise, hours of operation, intensity of use, possible after-hours anti-social behaviour, etc). Policies in the transport chapter will ensure that adequate parking and vehicular facilities are provided as well as access for the less mobile members of society.

Dual use of educational land or buildings

10.32

In some cases it is possible to combine educational use of land and buildings with other uses such as recreational/sporting uses or as meeting areas for community groups. This can normally be achieved by making the facilities available for these other uses outside normal school hours, i.e. in the evenings or at weekends. The dual use of facilities in this way can help to serve a range of community needs, and will be encouraged where this will not prejudice educational needs and will satisfy the other policies of this Plan e.g. those which aim to protect the amenities of residential areas.

Redevelopment or re-use of surplus educational land or buildings

10.33

In the event of any school buildings or land becoming surplus to educational requirements it will be necessary to consider for what use the site should be redeveloped or re-used. Potential appropriate uses may (depending on the site) be for other educational uses, health centres, open space, housing or industrial use.

10.34

In determining what is the appropriate use for any particular site the Council will be guided by the other policies of this Plan. For example, if the site is in an area which is in shortfall of open space provision against the standards set down in policy OS3, or of playing pitches when assessed against the standards in policy OS4, it may be appropriate to make the site available as public open space. In some cases, it may be appropriate to release the site for housing development, for example, where there is a shortage of available sites in sustainable urban locations. However, such proposals would need to satisfy the policies in the housing chapter, in particular the need for the Council to monitor and manage the release of housing land in accordance with the requirements of the Regional Spatial Strategy, and to give priority to the release of brownfield sites before green-field.

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