Supporting Information Statement Mobile Classrooms
CJ Design Limited
10 Ballaterson Road, Peel, Isle of Man IM5 1BJ Tel: 426277 email: [email protected]
Supporting Information Statement For Proposed Mobile Classrooms At Castle Rushen High School, Arbory Road, Castletown. 2023/20/04
Existing Site The site represents the curtilage of Castle Rushen High School which lies on the southern side of Arbory Road opposite the Buchan School. The site accommodates the school buildings and playing fields. The site lies within an area designated on the Castletown Local Plan of 1991 as Castle Rushen High School and is designated as Education. It is included within the Area Plan for the South as Buildings or Land for Civic, Cultural or Other Use, and designated as ‘SS’, for Secondary School on Map 5, Castletown.
The curtilage of the Castle Rushen High School is a sizeable area which fronts onto Arbory Road to the north, has agricultural fields to the south & west and residential development to the east. The school has staff and pupil parking provision on-site located to the north and east of the school buildings.
Proposals This application seeks full planning approval for the installation of a new mobile classroom building, containing two classrooms and toilet facilities to the rear (south) of the school buildings.
The rear of the school is largely screened from close view other than from the rear of the properties in Close Cairbre and Close Malew. From here the new mobile classroom is within the built curtilage of the school and does not intrude into the open space or playing fields, for which there is ample provision. We believe there will be no adverse impact as a result of the installation of this mobile structure.
The proposed mobile classroom building will be manufactured offsite by a company specialising in portable buildings to fully comply with current standards. The structure comprises a galvanised steel frame clad externally with powder coated metal cladding to the external walls and a mono-pitch flat roof finished with a black EPDM waterproofing membrane. Windows will be UPVC (white) double glazed and the external doors will be Merlin Grey powder coated aluminium.
The new mobile classroom will be highly insulated in excess of current standards and have air source heating/cooling to provide year round comfort to the teaching environment. The proposed U-Values of the floor and external walls exceeds the current requirements of Isle of Man Building Regulations and will help reduce the energy requirements and carbon footprint of the structure.
The applicant confirms that the mobile classrooms are required to provide teaching accommodation for the school, pending its planned redevelopment. Currently certain classes for older students are held in accommodation off campus in the Castletown Youth Centre located on Arbory Street.
There will be no increase in student numbers at the school as a consequence of the new mobile classroom. If the scheme is approved, it is intended to bring the off-site lessons noted above, back onto the school site. There will therefore be no impact on the current parking provision / traffic movement around the school grounds or the surrounding area.
