The landowners of the former Swanage Grammar School site last year secured outline permission for 52 houses there, but only provided they gave away the rest of the site for the Free School. They then pulled the plug on the school side of the deal at the 11th hour (which happily is now being built at the Middle School site instead).
Recently they have simply resubmitted to PDC the exact same plans for the housing scheme, not mentioning that they're no longer proposing to give up the rest of the site at all. Presumably, if they got it through, their next move would be to apply to build houses on the other half of the site too. Even the so-called "affordable" units they propose to rent out at fully 80% of full market rent (so not very affordable then!). This should be objected to in the strongest possible terms as blatant profiteering. The site is outside the town settlement boundary, in open countryside and within the AONB, so there are no grounds for housing to be permitted there now the school is going ahead elsewhere.
Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 11/4/13 1:27 pm
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I don't imagine the developers are stupid, nor are the PDC Planning Officers. There ia a shortage of affordable homes and this surely helps. Let's embrace the development of the site and support this. I see that UKBA are still looking for sites to temporarily house immigrants who allegedly have no right to work and live in the UK. Wasn't the old school once put forward.
With the free school plans now relocated to the Middle School land, the property developers should be made to build housing on the grammar school building site first. Ultimately this is an unsightly brown field site and it would be plain wrong for them to leave it in this state whilst they build housing on a green field plot next door.
How do you "make" someone build housing?
PDC have a pretty poor record at this sort of thing. Remember they let the developer put up 30 houses before he had even started the marina wall.
In answer to Nickthefish’s question, I’d rephrase my first sentence above to read: "With the free school plans now relocated to the Middle School land, PDC should only approve this planning application on the condition that the applicant redevelops the unsightly Grammar School building plot first". It is not acceptable for Welfare Dwellings to redevelop the green-field element of their property whilst leaving the Grammar School building in the unsightly and dangerous condition it currently is.
A good place for a park and ride. The new hospital with doctors.
The sports centre.
A new supermarket.
A Premier Inn.
Park and ride, supermarket,hospital,Premier Inn? would need a beefeater too but a little ambitious for Swanage I think.
Well Lyme Regis now has a park and ride, which would be great for Swanage.
Coop not up to the job, a Sainsbury's or Waitrose please with ample car parking.
Where would you recommend to stay in Swanage? We really need a motel.
Beefeater not needed, try the Mowlem.
AND dare I bring up the seafront stabalisation-more beach huts??? Why not cafes and restaurants there on an elevated terrace over looking the beach. Because STC don't want to upset their existing tenants perhaps?
On the subject of the free school, does anyone know how many children have been enrolled to start with them in September (at Harrow House)? Their application process is still open but the Swanage School have not published any pupil numbers yet.
Does anyone know how many pupils have enrolled at Purbeck? Or Lytchett? Or any of the primary schools for that matter? It's not the sort of information schools normally publish, is it?
So is the old building just going to stay as it is? I'm confused by the plan! Park and ride is a good idea.
It is certainly not the only building in Swanage which has been allowed to fall into dereliction by its owner in the hope that a planning application for something that overdevelops the site will be accepted. If the existing building has become unsafe it needs to be demolished at the owners expense.
The firm that owns it has, in the past, made absurd threats, like building a concentration camp for interned asylum seekers. They have also maintained that a 50% affordable content to developments makes things impossible for developers and then accepted exactly this stipulation in their last application. Take anything they say with a pinch of salt.
Has Anyone seen the Article in the Gazzette on line regarding affordable housing?
Yes and also the letter from the Swanage Mayor in the Advertiser which completely contradicts what's written. So what are the facts of the matter? Also I thought that with an impending election letters such as this from candidates weren't supposed to be published in the local press?
do we really need a motel?
And more cafes? The ones here now can barely survive
do we really need a motel? No but we should do. Yes if you genuinely want more people to come to Swanage.
And more cafes? The ones here now can barely survive. Because they are poor + motel and more people = prosperity
Re: 19/4/13 2:23 pm. I’ve spoken with a member of the teaching staff at The Purbeck School and they have informed me that their Year, 7, 8 and 9 intake for next September is very much in line with projected numbers. So, to repeat my earlier question: how many children have been enrolled to start at The Swanage School in September?
I popped down there today for old times sake - I studied there from 1971-4. Slightly naughtily, I know, but I stepped over the wall and went down the bank. There I was met by a loud "Oi!" and a tattooed, topless man who obviously didn't want me on the property despite me stating that I was reminiscing.
Do the owners have security living on that site? I was just wondering who that bloke was and if he had any right to sling me off.
That sounds like Chris - the resident site security. So yes, I'm afraid he was acting within his authority. I know some people who have had a look around with him but to be honest the main building is becoming more unsafe each day, particularly the risk of falling slates, so this may not be possible now.
Fair enough, I was aware that certain breaching of rules was being undertaken, but didn't know anybody was there.
I did keep my crash helmet on though :-)
Thanks for the reply.
Don't think anyone will give out the figures for the new school until they are firmly ensconced at Harrow House. The numbers are clearly very low (hence the glossy radio add on Heart to recruit numbers from Poole) and ES have publicly said (in The Gazette) that they wont be in the new building until at least after Easter of 2014. Why on Earth they don't put the start date back to 2014 is beyond me. Such an expense for so few pupils. It would make more sense to start in 2014 where they are bound to get a better intake because prospective parents will be able to see what they are getting.
My son and most of his friends have accepted places at the new school and while it does seem that their policy is not to make numbers public at this stage (they wouldn`t tell us, just said that they already had enough intake to make it viable)
I would guess this is because the amount of places accepted changes on a daily basis.
Or that the intake is disappointingly low with a vast majority of Swanage parents rejecting the concept of the free school. However, a “build it and they will come” strategy seems to be prevailing.
I wonder what a 'viable' intake is. I doubt if numbers accepted would change on a daily basis, more like after the appeals for grammar have taken place.
Planning permission formally REFUSED by PDC on 29th May 2013. In the circumstances the right decision.
Decision due by 05/07/13 it has not been refused.
Relax - I was referring to the planning application for the houses on the Grammar School site, ref: 6/2013/0150 which after all is what this thread was originally about! The minor changes to the Free School application which I think you are referring to will I'm sure be waved through unhindered.
How can I get hold of Chris? Does he live in the adjacent house?
Try the former mobile classroom by the old main school (north) entrance.
I see that the developer of the Grammar School site is appealing against PDC's decision to refuse planning permission to redevelop the former playing fields (only). I hope his appeal fails.
I really hope they decide to renovate the old school as it has some interesting features. It would be a real shame to knock it down.
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