Supporting Information Statement
CJ Design Limited
10 Ballaterson Road, Peel, Isle of Man IM5 1BJ Tel: 426277 email: [email protected]
Supporting Information Statement For Proposed Mobile Classroom (Single) At Ballasalla Primary School, Douglas Road, Ballasalla. 2024/02/06
Existing Site The site represents the curtilage of Ballasalla Primary School which lies in the heart of Ballasalla. The school is a large building encompassing modern elements with large, secure play yard and grassed area to the south of the main building. There are some detached, modular buildings within the school grounds, however these are not available to the primary school for daily use. A mobile unit is located to the west of the main school building which provides private nursery care for pre-school children and two modular buildings provide community space located to the south of the school building. The school site is contained and well screened from the main Douglas Road (A6).
The curtilage of the Ballasalla School is a sizeable area which fronts onto Douglas Road to the south and has residential development to the remaining three sides. The school has staff and visitor parking provision on-site located to the east of the school buildings which can be accessed via the Clagh Vane residential development. The school buildings have been extended previously to accommodate increasing pupil numbers and the Department has also provided mobile classroom accommodation (since removed) as required.
The application site is a grassed area located to the west of the main school buildings, directly to the south of the existing Nursery mobile unit. The application site can only be accessed via the secure play area or footpath around the school building and will be screened from the main road.
Photographs of the application site, the school’s boundary with Douglas Road and surrounding boundaries with the residential properties have been included as part of this planning application for reference, see Appendix A.
Proposals This application seeks full planning approval for the installation of a mobile classroom building, containing a classroom with toilet facilities to the west of the main school buildings.
The proposed mobile classroom building will be relocated from another school on the island and will be provided with a disabled access ramp and steps suitable for ambulant disabled in accordance with current regulations.
The application site proposed to accommodate the new mobile classroom has been chosen to remain with the secure grounds of the school, within proximity to existing structures to reduce the visual impact to members of the public and will not intrude into the playing fields or outdoor facilities enjoyed by the school and private nursery. The application site is currently used as open space and this will be reduced as part of this application however there is ample provision for open space elsewhere within the school grounds. We believe there will be no adverse impact because of the installation of this mobile structure.
The mobile classroom is needed for September ‘24 to provide additional accommodation at the school. The school roll has risen steadily over recent years with the re-construction of the Clagh Vane estate, and the large Reayrt Mie residential development, from 95 in 19/20, to 137 in 22/23, to a current roll of 143. The school anticipate a September ‘24 roll of circa 164. The Department’s stated permanent capacity of the school is 131 (including adjustment down from 150 in 2023, for additional educational needs (AEN) provision. The school propose to use the mobile classroom as a breakout support area for AEN students, with the 7 year groups being accommodated in the 6 permanent school classrooms.
