Preston primary school extension 'will invade my privacy', resident claims

Lancashire County Council's development control committee approved a proposal to build a new single-storey block in the grounds of Lea Community Primary School. The facility will enable pupil numbers at the school eventually to double - to a total of 420 - by admitting an extra class of 30 children each year from this September.

Members heard that the design of the new building - which will be connected by a corridor to the existing Greaves Town Lane school - had been amended during the course of the application in an attempt to address concerns raised by its nearest neighbours.

The changes have seen the number of classrooms to be housed in the extension reduced from five to four and the positioning of the building altered so that it is slightly further away from surrounding properties.

Six objection letters were lodged in response to the initial scheme, but the committee was told that the occupier of the nearest of those homes - on Blackpool Road - had registered a further complaint about the revised plans.

In a letter read out to the meeting on his behalf by a Lancashire County Council officer, the resident - Mark Jones - said that the extension amounted to “an invasion of privacy”.

The minimum distance between the building and his back garden will be just shy of seven metres, while the gap between the classrooms and his first floor windows will be 26.8 metres, county councillors heard.

“These revised plans will still have four classrooms of children looking straight into my home, as no consideration has been [given] to switch[ing] the plans [and] placing the classrooms overlooking the playground [instead].

“I have been informed that this was arranged to reduce the noise levels whilst children move classrooms, [but] I believe that this is an unproven excuse, bearing in mind we already hear the playground noise and also noise at the beginning and end of each [school] day,” Mr. Jones wrote.

County Hall planning officer Helen Ashworth said that it was “fair to say…that there will be an impact” on those living nearby, but added it was “all about striking [a] balance”.

She also explained that one of the reasons for building the extension in the chosen location was that it was in an area that Sport England did not consider was capable of being used as playing pitches - whereas other possible places to build on the site were already reserved for that purpose. A trim trail currently located where the extension will appear is to be moved elsewhere within the grounds.

Preston City Council, which is responsible for determining most planning applications in the city, suggests that there should be at least 21 metres between the windows of habitable rooms in neighbouring residential properties, which Helen Ashworth said was a useful guide as to what should be considered acceptable in the case of the school.

Committee member Munsif Dad said that while he could “understand” residents’ concerns, he would be supporting the application, having considered "what alternatives the school had”.

His colleague - and Preston East representative - Anna Hindle said that there was “a huge need” for additional school places in the city, but did question whether that demand was as pressing in Lea as in the north of Preston. Papers presented to the meeting noted, however, that there is potential demand for between 110 and 246 additional pupils beyond 2026 in the area served by Lea Community Primary.

Meanwhile, committee chair Matthew Maxwell-Scott said that communication by the applicant - Lancashire County Council itself - with nearby residents “could have been improved somewhat”.

A temporary expansion to accommodate an additional 30 pupils during the current academic year has required two “demountable classroom units” to be installed on the site.