ten year plan development framework

Ten Year Strategic Planand

Development Framework

Ten Year Strategic Plan and Development Framework

Introduction to the Ten Year Strategic Plan

and Development Framework

Cheadle Hulme School has published a Ten Year Strategic Plan which articulates its vision for the future and sets out the areas the School is actively seeking to develop and strengthen.

The Development Framework is a document focusing on the physical aspects of delivering the Strategic Plan. It sets out the School’s plans for future development, reconfiguration and improvement of the School site to:

assist in the delivery of the highest quality education• provide a continued and improved contribution to the local community •

This exhibition explains the various proposals within the Development Framework and will help inform pupils, parents, Council Officers and Members and the local community about the School’s plans.

It is also intended that the Development Framework will help support future planning applications and other consents that might be required for the various improvements to the School site over the next ten years.


Our Strategic Aims

Delivering educational excellenceCheadle Hulme School seeks for its students to experience an outstanding education that prepares them thoroughly, thoughtfully and suitably for adulthood and for Cheadle Hulme School to be the outstanding School of its kind.

To ensure it can continue to thrive and provide a challenging, dynamic and relevant education, the School aims to:

Make internal and external learning space more versatile and offer a wider scope of •high quality learning environments

Improve spaces for learning in Drama, Music and Design Technology•

Improve facilities for the Junior School to create a greater sense of community and •encourage leadership by accommodating all year groups under one roof

Build on recent success in pupil intakes to reach the optimum population for the •School site and ensure a sense of community is maintained

Delivering sporting excellenceAs vital components to healthy lifestyles, self-discipline, teamwork, leadership, communication and resilience, the School aims to promote sport and physical activity as a key component of School life. Increasing the number of sports teams to strengthen participation and supporting teams in local and national competitions are central to achieving this aim, and will require the provision of new and expanded facilities for indoor and outdoor activity including:

• AnewSportsHall

• Anew3GPitchandJuniorAstroturf

• Newgrassplayingpitches

• Improvedchangingfacilitiesandspectatorareas

As is the case with existing facilities, all new sports facilities will be made available for local groups and sports clubs for matches and practices and as such will form new assets to the local community.

Improving access and circulationAs the School has developed and grown over the years, parking and access arrangements have grown in a piecemeal manner. A key aim for the School over the next ten years is to improve and rationalise pedestrian and vehicular movement across the site, enriching the School environment and reducing the impact on the local road network at peak times. Proposals include:

Improved parent drop-off arrangements•

Improved vehicular through-flow at peak times•

Revised coach drop-off arrangements•

Strengthened pedestrian character of the spaces around • educational buildings


New building

Existing pitch

Proposed pitch

Pedestrian area

Vehicular area

Existing tree

Proposed tree

Illustrative Landscape Masterplan

New 3G Pitch3rd Generation all-weather synthetic pitch for School and community use

Extended Junior SchoolTo accommodate Junior year groups currently taught in Main Building

New Classroom Block

Redesign of Drama Facility New Arrival and

Gathering Space

New Sports HallFor School and community use

New Design Technology BuildingExisting pre-fab building replaced

Improved Car Parking

New Play AreaHard-surfaced; used by coaches at peak times

New PavilionReplacement of existing Pavilion to provide improved changing facilities and viewing area for School and community use

New Grass Sports Pitches


Key


2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Junior School Extension

SPORT

Portakabins

New Sports Pitches

Pavilion

3G Pitch

Sports Hall

ACADEMIC

Lecture Theatre

New Classroom Block

DRAMA

New Drama Area (Bursary)

Holden Hall Redesign

DT

New DT Building

PARKING

Improved Car Parking and Circulation

School funded projectCapital campaign projectOther project led by Development office

Framework Timeline

November 2011

December 2011

January 2012

February 2012

March 2012

April 2012

May 2012

June 2012

Complete draft framework

Public consultation

Finalise framework and seek endorsement at Area Committee

Initial consultation with officers

Research context analysis and consider options

Projects’ timeline


Background context

A• gricultural landscape.R• ich field pattern of small to medium sized fields running predominately in a NW to SE and NE to SW grid.V• ery little other settlement, other than scattered farm steads.S• chool owned 5 acres in a wedge shape. B• uilding set within strong designed landscape structure of both native and exotic trees.S• trong relationship between building and railway.B• uilding accessed from Claremont RoadS• trong pedestrian link from Heathbank Road to Hulme Hall Road via railway overbridge.

Field boundary existing today

Field boundary present at time of mapping

Route existing today

Route present at time of mapping

Important historic route

Fields retained

Fields

Immediate School extent

Site entry points

Buildings existing today

Buildings present at time of mapping

2. Historic Evolution1879: The School set within an agrarian landscape

1910: The School set within a settled landscape 1963: The School set within a suburban landscape

A• dditional land was purchased as it was available (much in the late 1800s) and by 1912, the School had 72 acres.T• he Main Building was much expanded and Holden Hall added.L• inear development along Hulme Hall Road and Heathbank Road.T• he main buildings were defined within the landscape by hedgerows and route ways that no longer exist.

I• n 1946, a further 46 acres were acquired in the neighbourhood of Gill Bent Road in pursuit of a policy of maintaining a green belt around the School.S• port was an important theme with 3 tennis court areas and a pavilion within the playing fields.S• ignificant ‘creep’of residential development from the east, however the west is restrained by the railway and School fields. T• he School fields have remained in keeping with the aim of safeguarding the greenbelt.P• ublic Right of Way over bridge to Smithy Green remained an important link.E• xpansion establishes a second Main School entrance on School Lane.

3. HeritageWhilst founded in 1855, construction on the current Cheadle Hulme School building started in 1869 and opened in the same year. It was subsequently extended and buildings added in the following decades. Surrounding land was also bought to maintain a green belt around the School.

The Main Building was Grade II listed in 1995 and, as such, is a designated heritage asset. In 2003 the Governors commissioned an Architectural History Report which set out some recommendations:

A• s the front is now effectively the back, it is desirable to use the front as much as possible and to make sure that it is seen and appreciated. It is important to keep the front entrance in regular use. The trees along the railway boundary serve little purpose. The School might as well capitalise on its show front.I• n closer view the service yard and the numerous interventions over the years has made the rear elevation unavoidably messy. Bearing in mind that this is the side that is seen, it is desirable to improve or disguise the worst of the interventions such as the flat-roofed kitchen extension.

Further themes are noted by the design team:D• evelopment in the pursuit of education excellence is a consistent theme in the School’s history.T• he School possesses a unique culture which reflects the original aims and ideals of its founders; social diversity, nondenominational.O• utstanding pastoral care is central to the School ethos (in loco parentis); this paternalism has always extended to the broader well being of students and the use of the external areas of the site to support this.

Site today: Older architectural features in a darker colour

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1 Main Building2 Holden Hall3SwimmingPool4 A Block5 Lockhart Building6 Junior School

1. Planning PolicyCheadle Hulme School lies within land allocated as Green Belt in the Stockport Unitary Development Plan (UDP) (adopted May 2006). UDP Policy GBA1.2 sets a presumption against the construction of new buildings in the Green Belt unless very special circumstances can be demonstrated. The built up area of the School site is identified as a Major Existing Developed Site in the Green Belt where the saved UDP Policy GBA1.7 permits infilling development. Stockportís Core Strategy (adopted March 2011) seeks to retain the Green Belt in the Borough. National Planning Policy Framework published in March 2012 also seeks the continued protection of Green Belts. The construction of new buildings can therefore be accepted if ‘very special circumstances’ can be demonstrated. Facilities for outdoor sport and recreation, replacement buildings and the extension or alteration to a building are all‘appropriate development’ within the Green Belt and also allowable. The purpose of the Development Framework Document is to set out the collective objectives of the School which together form the basis for the ‘very special circumstances’ case that will be presented in support of individual applications for the future buildings needed to meet the School’s Ten Year Strategic Plan.

Heritage and Biodiversity planning considerations

Green Belt

Major Existing Developed Site

Site of Biological Importance

Local Nature reserve

Tree preservation order

Conservation area

Listed building

Locally listed building


Background context

7. Access

Out of School Hours Lettings (Evenings and Weekends) from Gym Car Park

H• olden Hall and Music School principal destinations for out of hours non-sport use.T• he Swimming Pool is highly used.A• ccess to Gym effective but staff required to escort arrivals to other sport facilities. P• arking remote from Astro pitch and route circuitous to it.A• rrival experience therefore poor for sport users.

Astroturf

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Daily access for students, staff and parents

E• xisting pedestrian links through the site and between facilities are often tortuous and located away from natural pedestrian desire lines. P• arents of Junior School need to park rather than drop off - route to Junior School circuitous. R• oute to Junior School not DDA or fit for use by scooters without crossing on to roadway.S• eniors arriving via Gym Car Park forced through Sixth Form area before accessing buildings beyond (including Main Building).S• eniors arriving on foot via Gym Car Park (segregated route) forced through a series of pinch points to reach central quadrant.

Juniors

Seniors

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Special Events (including fetes, open days etc)

V• ehicles are often allowed full access, all parking used.M• ain pedestrian routes as shown.

Additionally, a public footpath crosses the site. It runs along the inside of the boundary hedge to the main School grounds. This is a security risk and the School seeks its relocation to the outer side of the hedge.

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Deliveries (Before 8 and after 4.15) and Emergency vehicles

D• eliveries to catering building is a key movement. Often arrive after 8.15 so have to trolley by hand.

FirstAidAdmin

Bursary

DT

Kitchen

Emergency vehiclesDeliveriesDeliveries trollied by hand in School hours

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Informal hard playInformal soft playOutdoor learning (allotments, wildlife pond)Key social/gathering spacePlay space conflicting with vehicular use

C• ar parking is a key constraint for the School and one which impacts on the wider community.T• he site has limited space for car parking and pick up and drop off arrangements and becomes congested at peak times.F• ragmented parking areas have a fundamental impact on the nature and character of spaces (not simply when cars are present but also because of associated lining, bollards, and signage) A• d hoc parking across the site leads to a fragmented parking offer, creating complicated/illegible access routes and arrival experiences.T• he overlap of use with play at School Lane Car Park is problematicS• ome areas have unclear circulation routes and narrow pavement widths meaning people walk in the roadway.C• ycle storage provision is remote from main vehicular routes into site giving rise to possible conflict with pedestrians beyond these zones.

5. Play spaces

The pressure for car parking spaces and limited space within the main School site leaves very little space for students to play and socialise in break times, particularly in bad weather when the playing fields and grass areas are wet.

6. Car ParkingDrop off/ Pick upParents (dropping off and picking up)StaffMinibusesCoachesOut of hours letsVisitorsDisabled parkingParking only used out of School time (services and special events)Cycle parking

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4. Key views and edge conditionsExisting views to Main Building from public highway are very limited:

D• istant filtered views from Hulme Hall Road.F• iltered views from Heathbank Road.N• o view from Claremont Road.C• lear views of Main Building from School Lane (once entered School site).

Existing views to Main Building from Public Rights of Way:C• lear middle distant views to School building from PROW stile at Hulme Hall Road.F• iltered long distance views to School building from PROW at Farnham Close.

Views to Main Building from private dwellings:F• irst floor views from rear windows of Woodlands Close properties.D• istant first floor rear window views from Hulme Hall Road, Dundonald Road and Woking Road.F• iltered views from rear and side windows of Old School Lane properties.

Other observations:L• imited visual connections to surrounding areas due to flat nature of site and low height of surrounding predominantly residential uses. P• redominantly red brick buildings. Derby Building is discordant in views from the south and west due to yellow brick of façade.S• trong sport related vertical elements-poplars, sports lighting/fencing posts, railway gantries etc. S• trong built vertical elements (building spire, oriel) and strong horizontals (flat pitches in front) create a harmonious composition.R• ange of building heights on site, stepping down. The single storey Junior School building and Pavilion are barely visible from the south; screened by hedges.

KeyView1

KeyView2

KeyView3

Visible,publicedgePrivateedgeEdgeborderingrailwayPublicRightofWayKey view of SchoolbuildingsKeyviewoffieldsVerticallandscapeelementsfiltering

Key View 1: From the School Lane approach

Key View 2: From the stile at Hulme Hall Road

Key View 3: From the Public Right of Way at Farnham Close


Delivering Educational Excellence

New Classroom Block

Teaching areas within Holden Hall often cannot be used during productions and other events. These issues can be resolved by creating a new classroom block providing an improved teaching environment.

The new building is to be conveniently located in the heart of the Academic Quadrangle on the site presently given over to the Groundsman’s House and garden.

New Design Technology Building

Uptake of Design Technology at Year 9 and GCSE is growing and the current building is insufficient to support these pupils fully. The School plans to replace the existing pre-fabricated building with a new building to provide better facilities and an improved teaching environment.

Extended Junior School

In recent years, the Junior School has grown considerably from 200 to 315 pupils, and the School is flourishing. However, Year 5 and 6 pupils are currently taught in the Main Building rather than the Junior School itself, putting pressure on classroom space within the Main Building.

The proposed extension will allow the whole Junior School to be housed under one roof; provide a new Gym space; and release space within the Main Building for improved facilities there.

It would also enable a high quality design to replace the 1960s building and enhance the setting of the Main School.

Redesign of Drama Facility

The School plans to create an exciting new drama area in the existing Bursary building.

New Junior Play Area

A new Junior Play Area is to be located next to the Junior School building, to offer improved opportunities for natural play, explorative play, role play and challenging play.


Delivering Sporting Excellence

New Junior Astroturf Pitch

A new astro surface for the Junior School will allow them to have their own space to develop Hockey, Football and other skills, encouraging them to develop a passion for sport from a young age.

New Sports Hall

The new Sports Hall will be a multi-sport space potentially offering 6-8 badminton courts, a multi-gym facility, a dance studio, a climbing wall and a spinning room. Very much a community asset, it will be available to local groups for evening and weekend sessions.

An environmentally sustainable green roof will allow the hall to sit comfortably within its setting.


The wider School site will be better used to accommodate the demand for field games.

New 3G Pitch

A new 3rd Generation synthetic pitch will be an enormous asset to both the School and community, offering a genuinely all-weather, lit pitch to local clubs. It will also ease pressure on the existing Astroturf pitch. Lighting of this pitch will be limited to use before 9pm.

A 3rd Generation pitch

New PavilionA new Pavilion to replace the existing building will provide much improved changing facilities and a viewing area. This facility will be available for both School and community use.

Visualisation of view along new access path towards 3G pitch with Junior School extension and play area to the right


Improving Access and Circulation

Improved parent parkingImproved parking layout for parents at Gym Car Park on Claremont Road.

Improved pedestrian environmentAs vehicles will be excluded altogether from the centre of the School site, enhancements to this area can be made to remove redundant vehicular road markings and narrow pavements to allow the space to feel entirely pedestrianised, thus creating people rather than vehicle-focused spaces

Before

After

Possible people-focused spaces

Improved parent drop-off /collection arrangementsImproved drop-off and collection arrangements from School Lane entrance will reduce congestion and increase throughflow of vehicles

Evening and weekend use for lettings will allow for more direct access to the sports and letting facilities

Improved coach drop-offThe new play area will accommodate coaches at drop-off and collection times, freeing up space in the School Lane Car Park for staff and parent parking

Improved staff parkingBarrier controlled staff parking

Evening and weekend use for lettings

Suggested hard landscape materials

ten year plan development framework

Documents

school site

outstanding school

junior school

school environment

local community

future development

key component of school

year groups