The Southern Area Planning Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Thursday 19 March 2026 and considered one planning application. The committee resolved to approve the renewal of planning permission for a mobile classroom at Greentrees Primary School.

Greentrees Primary School, Sycamore Drive, Bishopdown, Salisbury, SP1 3GZ

The committee considered an application to renew planning permission for five years for an existing mobile classroom at Greentrees Primary School, which is occupied by Bishopdown Farm Pre-school. The application was brought before the committee due to objections received from local residents concerning parking, access, and pedestrian safety.

Decision: Approved with conditions.

Discussion:

The primary concerns raised by objectors centred on traffic congestion, inadequate parking, and pedestrian safety issues on St Thomas Way, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times. Residents reported instances of vehicles mounting pavements, parking across gates, and ignoring existing restrictions, leading to hazardous conditions.

Wiltshire Council's Highways Officer raised no objection to the renewal, stating that while parking restrictions exist, their enforcement is a matter for the school and the Council's Highways Enforcement Team. The school has an agreed Travel Plan, which includes measures to discourage car journeys and promote sustainable travel. However, objectors felt that the current arrangements were insufficient and that the renewal of permission would allow existing problems to continue unchecked.

The committee was informed that Wiltshire Council had advertised Traffic Regulation Order amendments for St. Thomas' Way, proposing a mandatory School Keep Clear marking and extended yellow line restrictions, in response to the parking concerns. It was noted that the enforcement of these restrictions falls outside the remit of the Local Planning Authority.

The committee noted that the mobile classroom is a temporary structure, and the renewal of permission for a further five years is a common practice for educational sites to meet short to medium-term needs. The principle of development was considered acceptable as the site is within the settlement boundary of Bishopdown, a small village, and the retention of the classroom is necessary to accommodate projected pupil numbers.

In terms of design and amenity impacts, the existing mobile classroom was considered to be of a utilitarian design that integrated well with the school's existing buildings and did not cause material harm to visual or residential amenity. The application sought to retain the structure as existing.

Conditions:

The approval was granted with the following conditions:

1. The development must be carried out in accordance with approved plans.
2. The development shall be carried out with the existing agreed travel plan relating to Bishopdown Farm Pre-School.
3. The mobile classroom must be removed and the land restored to its former condition within five years of the decision date, in accordance with an approved scheme.