Site North of London Road Rayleigh

There seems no logic behind this allocation .In the forecast for Primary School places by the county education department allowing for the new houses there still appear to be excess places in Rayleigh schools .St. Nicholas School Priory chase has planning permission to double its size . If a new school was built so close to three other primary schools there is a chance that a school in eastern Rayleigh could be threatened with closure .

Background

The draft document sets out a requirement for a primary school site of 1.1 ha as part of the proposed new neighbourhood west of Rayleigh, along with some site specific considerations.

Representations

Countryside Properties have no objection to the provision of land for a primary school as part of the new community west of Rayleigh. It is our experience that the need for such facilities can vary over time, and we are already aware of comments made by Essex County Council at earlier stages of the Core Strategy document that there may in fact be a surplus of school places within the local area.

It will be important therefore that the issue of need for a primary school is assessed at the masterplan/planning application stage, and any Site Allocations DPD policy for the site should make clear that the provision of the school will be dependent upon the need for that facility existing.