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0015 2023/24
07/07/2023
Children and Young People
All wards
Former Penkford School
To confirm the former Penkford School surplus to the requirements of the People's Services Directorate. To appropriate the land associated with Penkford School from an educational purpose to a planning purpose.
To confirm that the former Penkford School is surplus to the requirements of the People's Services Directorate and to transfer responsibility for the site to the Estates Section of the Place Services Directorate. To appropriate the land associated with Penkford School from an educational purpose to a planning purpose.
Penkford School has not been operational since autumn 2022 when the school was relocated to the refurbished educational unit on the former Red Bank site. The school re-opened as Willow Bank School. The former Penkford School is in poor condition and is no longer considered to be a suitable educational environment. The level of capital investment required to improve the condition of the site is prohibitive and is not considered to represent value for money. In addition, due to a strategically important pipeline that runs underneath the site, there is limited scope to undertake significant works to the grounds and premises. The site is surplus to the requirements of the People's Services Directorate. It is proposed that responsibility for the site is transferred to the Estates Section (Place Services Directorate) in accordance with the Council's procedures for the management of sites that are surplus to departmental requirements. It is intended that the premises are demolished. The demolition will be subject to a future decision, once estimated costs are ascertained. The potential future options for the site will be subject to the relevant Department for Education guidance for organisations holding land for the purposes of a school. Under section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council has a general power to appropriate land. The Council may appropriate land: - belonging to the Council; - that is no longer required for the purpose for which it is held; - for any other purpose for which the Council is authorised by statute to acquire land. The land associated with the Penkford School site belongs to the Council and is no longer required for the purpose for which it is held i.e. a school. It is proposed that the land is appropriated from an educational purpose to a planning purpose (which definition includes the development of land).
In conclusion, it is proposed that the former Penkford School is confirmed as surplus to the requirements of the People's Services Directorate and that responsibility for the site is transferred to the Estates Section of the Place Services Directorate.
There is currently a risk of the site being subject to trespass / unlawful occupation.
The proposal will enable the Council to manage the site in a more secure manner.
None
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Please contact Greg Tyrer on 01744 671812
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