Disposal of Land at Golden Flatts Primary School, Seaton Lane, Hartlepool
Background
The land to be disposed of comprises a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and adjoining area of grass and hedging and was formerly used as an outdoor play area by the Council’s Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). The use ceased in 2014 on the relocation of the PRU to the Brierton site. The land adjoins but id not used by Golden Flatts Primary School playing fields. The Council now proposes to dispose of the land for development for the development of a new specialist Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Free School on a nearby site.
Proposals
The consultation is concerned with the proposed disposal. The area concerned extends to 0.31 acres. Please click HERE to see the area shown as a verged red on the plan. The Golden Flatts Primary School site extends to 8.38 acres including buildings and therefore the land which it is proposed to dispose of forms 3.7% of the site. The school has playing fields, playgrounds and other external areas including an artificial surface all weather pitch extending to a total of 7 acres. Disposal of the former MUGA and adjoining land would reduce the total to 6.7 acres.
The minimum amount of playing field land recommended by the Department for Education for a school of this size (in relation to pupil numbers) is 2.38 acres. The school will therefore retain approximately 2.8 times the minimum recommended area. As noted above the Council now intends to dispose of the land in order to facilitate the establishent of the proposed SEND Free School. The prospective purchaser intends to develop the land, the proposed development will require planning permission on which further consultation will be carried out. To date no planning application has been made in relation to the land in connection with the proposed disposal. This consultation is separate from the statutory town and country planning consultation which would be required for any future planning applications relating to the site. 
Statutory Consultation
The Council is carrying out this consultation as it proposes to apply to the Secretary of State for Education for consent to dispose of the land. The consent of the Secretary of State is required under Section 77 of the School Standards and Frameworks Act 1998 as it is school land. The consultation period will run for the statutory period of 6 weeks between 30th August to 11th October
We will ask you to complete the survey by the 14th October 2021 but if you would like to add anything further to the consultation please use the contact details below:
Philip Timmins BA Hons MRICS
Principal Estates Surveyor
Hartlepool Borough Council
Civic Centre
Victoria Rd
Hartlepool
TS24 8AY
Email: Philip.timmins@hartlepool.gov.uk
The results of the consultation will be summarised and reported to the Education Funding Agency. The results of the consultation will be considered as one of the factors in assessing the application for consent for disposal.