City planners have refused an application for temporary classrooms and WCs to be installed at a primary school in Stoke-on-Trent. 

Ash Green Primary School in Trentham wanted to install two temporary blocks, containing eight classrooms, on its playground for 12 months while structural repairs are carried out on the first floor of the building. 

However, the company managing the project disputed the council's request for a flood risk assessment to be completed and now planning officers have refused the application. 

The council report refusing the application said: "The site is located within flood zone 3. This guidance continues that land within flood zone 3 has a high probability of flooding from rivers and the sea and that there could be a risk of flooding from surface water at this site."

The proposed development would be in direct conflict with the planning policies and principles in regard to the management of the risk of flooding and "a flood risk assessment would be required to demonstrate a sustainable and safe development", the report added.

The architects argued a flood assessment wasn't needed as the proposed classroom building is a temporary structure with foundations raised off the ground and situated on an existing impermeable playground. 

A statement sent to planning officers said: "We respectfully request that the requirement for a Flood Risk Assessment be reconsidered, as the proposed temporary accommodation does not increase flood risk and employs appropriate mitigation measures."

Pupils who usually occupy the eight classrooms set to be out of use for the duration of the repairs will be required to use the temporary classrooms on the playground.

While planners said they didn't dispute the principles of the plan, as there was no flood risk assessment submitted with the application, planners were not able to carry out a full assessment of the flood risk as they wished and the application was refused.

Read the application here.

--------

READ: Further disagreement over future of Kidsgrove train station stalls redevelopment plan

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.