Policy information sourced from Dacorum Local Plan 2004 Alteration

69 Education

New schools and colleges will be permitted in:

  • the Green Belt as reuse of buildings (Policy 110) and as reuse of large residential buildings standing in extensive grounds (Policy 4);
  • the Rural Area to meet a particular proven need of the local rural community (Policy 7);
  • towns and large villages as reuse or redevelopment of existing institutional facilities (including those in open land areas) and as reuse, redevelopment or development of sites in town centres, local centres and residential areas;

provided:

  1. the environmental character of the location is retained;
  2. there is no significant detriment to residential amenity;
  3. sufficient on-site parking is provided;
  4. there is satisfactory provision for the setting down and picking up of students arriving by private or passenger transport;
  5. ancillary facilities (including playing fields and grounds) are available to meet the needs of students; and
  6. ancillary buildings and works, additional replacement and redevelopment of buildings and changes of use will be guided and controlled through the criteria in Policy 116.

Potential change of use from education within the provisions of the Use Classes Order 1987 will be controlled where appropriate.

Extensions of existing educational facilities will not be acceptable in the Green Belt (Policy 4) except on schools identified as major development sites (Policy 5). Elsewhere extension of facilities will be considered in relation to the criteria (1) - (6) above. Size of new buildings will be restricted by applying Policy 7 for the Rural Area and Policy 9 for the towns and large villages.

The loss of existing education facilities will not be supported unless:

  • the new use is temporary, pending return to education use; or
  • the site is no longer appropriate for or needed for education use.

Should a site not be needed for education, alternative development will be supported. On open land in the towns and large villages buildings may be converted or redeveloped for social, community or recreational purposes, but playing fields and grounds must remain in open use (see Policy 116). Elsewhere in the towns and large villages redevelopment of the site will be permitted (see Policy 9). In the Green Belt and in the Rural Area uses listed in Policies 4 and 7 will be accepted.

For more information please see the Local Plan