Policy information sourced from the Hounslow Local Plan Part 1

CI2 - EDUCATION AND SCHOOL PLACES

Our approach

We will plan for, invest in, and facilitate development of a network of education facilities which cater for the increased demand for places and the changing educational needs of the borough population.

We will achieve this by

  • Supporting the delivery of high quality new and expanded primary, secondary and special schools, in areas of identified need and where it can be evidenced that the school is providing for an unmet demand for places;
  • Allocating sites and working with other school providers to meet the additional number of forms of entry required to support the provision of primary, secondary and special needs places for the increased population over the plan period;
  • Supporting the provision of ‘bulge’ classes and temporary accommodation, but only where required in the short term and a longer term strategy is in place;
  • Encouraging the mixed-use of sites which are suitable for delivering education facilities with other appropriate uses, particularly residential, to enable the provision of needed school places within the borough;
  • Supporting the growth and improvement of further and higher education facilities in the borough and looking for opportunities to bring a new university to the borough;
  • Supporting the provision and improvement of early years places and facilities in light of changing statutory responsibilities of the local authority; and
  • Working and co-operating with neighbouring boroughs in planning for school places through established forums and other mechanisms.

We will expect development proposals to

  • Deliver new schools or expanded existing schools in locations that are included in the development plan as site allocations unless a robust case for not providing or expanding a school at that location can demonstrate that:
    • The school accommodation is not required in that part of the Borough in the Plan period; or
    • A development for school use at that location would not be viable because it would not meet funding requirements.
  • Demonstrate that a new or expanded education facility, where the site has not been allocated for education use, will provide for an unmet demand for school places;
  • Demonstrate that the impact in terms of traffic, car parking and noise from a new or expanded education facility will not cause severe harm to the surrounding area;
  • Demonstrate that a new or expanded education facility is accessible by a choice of sustainable modes of travel in accordance with the type of facility being proposed and that car parking provision is in accordance with the standards set out in the London Plan; and
  • Be accompanied by a Travel Plan for a new or expanded education facility, to be agreed with the council and implemented throughout the lifetime of the development.

For more information please see the Hounslow Local Plan Part 1