New Hasmonean School supported by Barnet
CSJ Planning acting for Hasmonean High School to deliver two new combined schools at Copthall, Barnet have achieved a ‘Resolution to Grant’ consent at Barnet Planning Committee on the 22nd February 2017. The scheme has taken 18 months to evolve in relation to a site search and then promotion of the site within the Green Belt and recreational sporting area. The existing girl’s school is within the Green Belt and therefore this scheme is a proposed enlargement to provide two single sex Jewish Orthodox schools. CSJ Planning along with Cube Design have promoted the scheme under a case of ‘very special circumstances’ in relation primarily to educational need and the bespoke requirements of Faith Provision, along with other factors in terms of the overall benefits of increasing community use, increasing tree planting and delivering enhanced education. The application was supported by a full Environmental Impact Assessment and generated significant local interest with both objectors and supporters, reaching well over 1,000 with 800 supporters. The significant delivery of community sports facilities through a community use agreement, the retention of 5 acres of woodland trails around the site; the increase in tree planting and a full Landscape Visual Impact Assessment that locates the building within the bowl of the site, combined with clear urgent educational need resulted in Committee voting to approve the scheme, as the very special circumstances were agreed, with the benefits considered to outweigh the harm. This is only the first stage of the planning process on this scheme as it will now go to the London Mayor and the GLA and potentially will then be considered by the Secretary of State.
