Meeting documents

The Member has proposed the following decision:

Title

Former Sands County First School, Lane End Road, Sands, High Wycombe

Reference Number

Schedule 47 - proposal

Proposed Decision

Addition of Sands First School building to High Wycombe Local List.

Date of Publication

Monday 16 June 2003

Reasons for Proposed Decision

The future of the former Sands County First School is uncertain.  Members at Development Control Committee regretted its demolition and several spoke against it.  Indeed the application, 99/07700/OUT, for housing in its stead was refused by DCC, partly to allow further negotiations with the aim of seeking the school building's preservation within any redevelopment.

The Sands Residents Association requested the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to assess the building for adding to the statutory list but the building was not considered by the DCMS to meet the current standards for addition to that list.  Local concern continues to be expressed and it has been requested that we consider the building for addition to the Local List.

Sands County First School meets all four of the Local List criteria included in Policy HE7 of the Emerging Wycombe District Local Plan.  Its architect is specifically named as one significant to the history of the area, Arthur Vernon.

There is no established procedure for adding buildings to the Local List and it is considered that any public consultation exercise as would be the case when we consider a whole parish is unnecessary in this instance.  Local views are well enough known with regard to Sands School.

Accordingly I advise that the Cabinet Member for Planning initiatives the process by issuing a Proposed Executive Decision to add the former Sands County First School to the Local List for Wycombe (this covers the former Borough of Wycombe which includes West Wycombe).

Local Listing does not bring statutory control over demolition and alteration but is a material consideration in any future planning applications for the site.

Brief Description:

FORMER SANDS COUNTY FIRST SCHOOL

1903, designed by Arthur Vernon of High Wycombe.  Brick.  Central bell cupola.  Central hall with projecting end wings, each with two tall arch-headed windows.  Central gabled bay.  Modern flat-roofed buildings to the rear are not of historic interest and are excluded.  

Consultation Undertaken

Consultation has taken place with the Local Member.

Your Questions and Views

If you have any views on this decision that you would like the Member to consider or if you wish to object to the proposed decision, please inform Martin Andrew.  This can be done by telephone (01494) 421578 or e-mail martin_andrew@wycombe.gov.uk.