Local Planning Guidance Note No 27 - Developer Contributions to Schools

This is one of a series of local planning guidance notes designed to amplify policies in the development plan and identify the circumstances and locations in which developer contributions to the provision of education facilities will be necessary. The Unitary Development Plan (UDP) was approved by the Council for operational purposes on 18 May 2004 and this note is now a material consideration in the determination of all relevant planning policies.

Education Planning in Wrexham

Wrexham has an annual Schools Organisation Plan that shows how the Council will meet the education needs of all children in its area. For education planning purposes the Authority maintains links between certain infant and junior schools and between junior/primary schools and secondary schools in groups throughout the County Borough. The Authority's Admissions Policy grants parental preference, unless to do so would prejudice the efficient and effective use of its resources. Over 96% of pupils are allocated places in accordance with their parents' first preference. The Schools Organisation Plan has proposals for reviewing the provision of Secondary School places in Wrexham town.

Background to this Guidance Note

Local authorities find themselves under increasing financial pressure to meet the educational needs arising from residential development. Cumulatively, even relatively small developments can have a significant financial impact on the provision of school places. Welsh Office Circular 13/97 'Planning Obligations' makes provision for developer contributions to offset the negative consequences of development provided there is guidance on this in the local development plan. The Wrexham UDP provides this guidance through its policy on the Capacity of Infrastructure & Community Facilities.

The rest of this note sets out further information on how this Policy will be applied.

Criteria

Any developer contribution will be based on the following considerations:

• It will only apply to proposed developments of four houses and above whether by new build, conversion or changes of use. Care will be taken to ensure that the total development is not deliberately sub-divided or phased in an attempt to avoid this threshold.
• It will only apply to schools with a shortage of places after addition of the extra pupils likely to be generated by the proposed development.
• The number and type of proposed residential units (large or small houses, bungalows or apartments). More detail is given in Table 1.
• The likely ratio of pupils per housing unit applicable to the appropriate school or schools at both primary and secondary level.
• The location of the development and likely impact on existing schools. This will be assessed using the same criteria as the Wrexham Council Schools Admissions Policy in relation to proximity and feeder schools. A map of school catchment areas is available.

If the potential pupils generated by the proposed development cannot be accommodated within existing schools then a commuted payment will be calculated by multiplying the additional places required by the pupil cost figure (see Table 1) to produce the commuted sum to be included in the planning obligation. Contributions by way of a release of land for a new school or direct construction may be considered as an alternative to payment of a commuted sum at the Council's discretion.

Timing of contributions

Any built educational provision will need to be completed to reflect the planned occupation of the homes. For larger developments phased payment will be considered to fit construction and occupation programmes.

Cost guidelines

The following guidelines are designed to give prospective developers an idea of the possible implications of their proposals. For specific advice concerning your particular proposal contact Wrexham County Borough Council, Chief Planning Officer.

• Every 100 houses produces around 28 primary age pupils and around 20 secondary age pupils.
• For developments that generate 100 pupils and above consideration will be given to a new school on a new site dependent on location and future growth potential of the area and the applicant will be expected to contribute in proportion to the number of school places the development generates.
• Wrexham Council will specify the local schools and the nature of the works which the contribution will finance.
• A standard Section 106 Agreement is available on request.

Table 1: Cost guidelines

Notes

• Building cost multipliers based on DFES guideline pupil allocations and average building cost assessment.
• Weighting 1 bedroom and accommodation for the elderly no charge, 2/3 bedrooms standard charge (shown above), 4 + bedrooms plus 20%.
• School Catchment Areas are Secondary Schools and their feeder Primary Schools plus current Local Education Authority policy on pupil proximity to schools.
• Schedules of costs and school population assessments to be reviewed annually as part of School Organisation Plan Review.

Worked example in Johnstown Infants School catchment area

For the development of: -

• 10 - 1 bedroom
• 10 - 2 bedroom
• 10 - 3 bedroom
• 10 - 4 bedroom houses/flats

Charges at primary school level

10 - 1 bedroom no charge

10 - 2 bedroom standard charge
10 * £1960 = £19600

10 - 3 bedroom standard charge
10 * £1960 = £19600

10 - 4 bedroom standard charge +20%
10 * £2352 = £23520

Charges at secondary school level

No shortage, no charge.

Schools where contributions are likely to be required

The list below shows schools where contributions are likely to be required. At all other schools there is likely to be some spare capacity to accommodate some development. This is not a definitive list, but a guide to developers. Please contact the Council for specific advice.

This list is taken from the Wrexham Schools Organisation Plan which is reviewed annually in October each year. When the major changes to secondary schools in Wrexham town are complete, the next changes will take place in Rhos and Coedpoeth. Elsewhere, changes from the list given below are likely to be limited.

Secondary schools

Bryn Alyn, Gwersyllt
Darland, Rossett
Penley Maelor (11 to 18 years)
Ysgol Rhiwabon

Primary schools

Wrexham Clywedog Catchment

Marchwiel
Victoria Infants
Victoria Junior
St Giles Infants
St Giles Junior

Wrexham St. Joseph's Catchment

Wrexham St. Anne's
Wrexham St. Mary's

Gwersyllt Bryn Alyn Catchment

Brymbo Aided
Brynteg
New Broughton
Pentre Broughton
Tanyfron

Penley Maelor Catchment

Marchwiel

Rhosllanerchrugog Y Grango Catchment

Johnstown Infants
Johnstown Junior
Penycae Infants
Penycae Junior

Wrexham Rhosnesni Catchment

Wrexham Acton Infants
Wrexham Acton Junior
Wrexham Alexandra
Wrexham Barkers Lane
Wrexham Borras Park Infants
Wrexham Borras Park Junior

Wrexham Morgan Llwyd (11 to 18 years) Catchment

Wrexham Plas Coch

Llangollen Dinas Bran (Denbighshire) Catchment

No schools

Ruabon Ysgol Rhiwabon (11 to 18 years) Catchment

Acrefair
Ruabon Maes y Llan
Ruabon St. Mary's

Rossett Darland Catchment

Gresford
Marford

Click here for Schools Location Map

For further information, please contact:

Chief Planning Officer,
Lambpit Street, Wrexham, LL11 1AR
Telephone: (01978) 292019.
Fax: (01978) 292502

Chief Property Services Officer,
Crown Buildings, Chester Street, Wrexham, LL13 8BG
Telephone: (01978) 297205.
Fax: (01978) 292502

Email: planning@wrexham.gov.uk

Updated April 2006

LPG Note 27 -Developer Contributions to Schools

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