Proposed New and Replacement Sports Facilities

Willington Road . Repton DE65 6FH

Design, Access and Heritage Impact Assessment

Planning application for the construction of new Indoor Hockey Pitch, Squash Club and associated Changing Facilities. Extension and

alterations to existing Changing Rooms, to provide Teaching and extended Hospitality Space, New Entrance Reception, Café, Briefing

Room, associated W.C’s and Administration Office. Addition of new Strength and Conditioning Suite and replacement of South

Entrance Lobby. Extension to Main Car Park and addition of Ball-catch netting.

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1.0 Introduction

This Design Access and Heritage Impact Statement has been prepared by Matthew Montague Architects on behalf of the client, Repton School. This is a full detailed Planning Application for the creation of:

New Full Sized Indoor Hockey Pitch, Squash courts and associated Social area and Changing Facilities.

Extension to existing Changing Rooms, Teaching and Hospitality Space to form new Entrance Reception,

Café, Briefing Room and associated W.C’s and Administration Office. Extension to Car Park to add 18

spaces and turning area, addition of ball catch netting to protect building, pedestrians and vehicles. Re-

alignment of existing hockey fencing with retaining wall below

Addition of new Strength and Conditioning Suite and replacement of existing Southern Entrance Lobby.

Demolition of the existing squash club building and two adjacent school storage buildings

This statement covers all of the key stages involved in the design process and the principles on which the scheme is based.

This document has been compiled with reference to “Design & Access Statements: How to write, read & use them” published in 2006 by the Comm ission for Architecture & the Built Environment (CABE).

2.0 The Existing Facility – overview

Site Location - NORTH

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The main Indoor Repton School sports facilities, are situated on a site to the west of Willington Road, on an area of relatively flat land to the south of the River Trent and at the base of a steep bank which

forms the southern boundary to the site, this bank rises up by approximately 6m to an area occupied by the recently constructed ‘Science Priory’. The Northern section of the site comprises three outdoor all-

weather hockey pitches, with two indoor tennis courts to the west. To the south of the site, running from the west to east, are two storage buildings, Repton Squash Club (owned by the school and leased to

Repton Squash Club) a Gymnasium, linked to Changing Facilities, Functions Suite, Fitness Suite (all known as the Tanyard Pavilion), and a Swimming Pool with associated changing and administration. To

the far east of the site, abutting the road is the Old Gymnasium, used by the school for a variety of PE and teaching, this is a Grade II listed building.

Existing Site Layout - NORTH

The Facility had evolved over the years, with the oldest original building being the Grade II listed ‘Old Gym’ fronting Willington Road - 1907, earlier buildings being the Storage Buildings and Squash Club, circa

1960-70’s, the Tanyard Pavilion 1984, and later buildings being the Indoor tennis Courts, Sports Hall 1991, Swimming Pool and changing rooms 1993, Fitness suite 2011 (small first floor addition to the

Tanyard Pavilion). Refer to Appendix A – Diagram of Plates Locations for positions of Photographs.

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1.Old Gym from north east entrance - 1907 2.Storage buildings to the west

3.Squash Club - circa 1960’s 4. The Tanyard Pavilion - 1984

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5.Sports Hall 1991 6. Indoor Tennis Courts

7. Swimming Pool 1993 with Fitness Suite at first floor right 2011 8.South Entrance to Swimming Pool

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These existing facilities provide sports accommodation for the physical education of the school pupils, and also serve as a valuable asset to the wider community. Amongst other uses, this contribution is

highlighted as follows:

Sports Hall

The sports hall provides a variety of sports use for hire, these comprise:

Basketball

Football

Netball

Badminton

Cricket

Indoor Hockey

Outdoor Hockey pitches

Hire to England hockey for national team training

Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) national finals are hosted here on an annual basis

Used by local football clubs for floodlit training through the winter, and also by the newly formed Repton Hockey Club (which is a separate entity to the School).

Swimming Pool

Used by 4 local primary schools in the community at significantly discounted rate as part of the School’s Community involvement.

Adam Peaty (Olympic Gold Medallist and world record holder) trains full time in the pool

Is let to a variety of different pool clubs such as, Swimming lessons, Water polo, Triathlon Swimming

Hosts the Charity swim days for Rebecca Adlington as part of her role for ambassador of the encephalitis society

Tanyard Pavilion

Other facilities for hire are conferencing rooms, dining rooms, and meeting spaces

The fitness suite offers membership to the wider public

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3.0 Contextual Evaluation

The contextual evaluation is an initial walkover study of the site and the immediate surroundings to determine local vernacular, materials, land use patterns and any other architectural and land features that

could be referenced within the proposal. This is to ensure that it satisfies the requirements set out in the Council’s Local Plan policies and/or the NPPF.

The site sits on land to the west of Willington Road, to the south of the River Trent, and to the West of the historic centre of the Village of Repton which dates back to Roman times. The site sits beyond the

boundaries of the Village Conservation Area, containing one grade II listed building, the Old Gymnasium, a detailed assessment of the historic value of the site is described in the attached Archaeology Report

prepared by Trent and Peak Archaeology.

The immediate neighbouring properties to the site comprise a Telephone Exchange and housing on the opposite side of Willington Road, a mixture of single and two storey brick and render buildings with

shallow pitched roofs, to the south of the main entrance to the site. To the immediate south of the site, is the recently constructed Science Priory, which is elevated by approximately 6m above the level of the

sports facilities, and is a mixture of natural stone, powder coated steel and aluminium cladding and aluminium framed windows.

9. Telephone exchange - east of Willington Road 10. Houses east of Willngton Road 11. Houses east of Willington Road

12. Science Priory from North West Hockey Pitch level) 13. Science Priory from south east (upper level)

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To the eastern entrance of the site, is the Grade II listed Old Gymnasium, pictured below in relation to the Science Priory and the Main site entrance. This is a Red brick structure, with tiled roof, listed as

‘Single Storey over basement’.

14. Approach from Willington Road from South, Old Gym on the right, Science Priory on the left 15.Site Entrance from Willington Road – Old Gym on left, Swimming Pool Beyond

16 . Staff Houses Tanners Lane 17 . Serendipity from East

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18 . Serendipity from north 19. The Rookery from east

To the west of the science priory, overlooking the site at the elevated level, is Tanners Lane, upon which sits a private house named Serendipity, a two story Brick dwelling with tiled roof, (privately owned), to

the south of this are two staff houses on Tanners lane, once again two storey brick houses. To the west of this, is an area of woodland, indicated on Ordnance Survey maps as The Rookery. To the west,

beyond the indoor tennis courts and Tanners lane, is open countryside, to the north of the site, beyond the river trent is once again open countryside.

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20. View from south to north across the hockey pitches, the rivers lies beyond the trees, and beyond this the Trent Valley 21. Terrace behind swimming pool

To the south of the swimming pool is the single storey plant room, the terrace above this relates to the level of the existing main reception, is not visible from the south, it is overlooked by, and also overlooks the

western elevation of the Old Gym Building. The context therefore is that this is a well-established sports facility, comprising a mixed variety of existing structures dating across the past 100 years, with limited

surrounding buildings.

4.0 The Requirements of the School

The Governors of Repton School have a 5 year rolling programme of re-investment, refurbishment, improvement and extension of the school facilities. As part of the 2012 assessment the school provided a brief of

requirements in order to up-grade established sports facilities, replacement the more tired and obsolete structures, and provide additional facilities for both the School and wider community. An initial masterplan

appraisal of the whole school site established that this development should take place on the Willington Road site.

Repton School has earned a national reputation for its quality of sport, significantly due to the quality of the teaching staff, it is recognised that in order to maintain and continue to improve this standard, the facilities

should be of the highest quality. The Issues identified in the brief are as follows:

Tanyard Pavilion/ Complex – has grown organically over the past 100 years. The Pavilion in particular is now dated, the changing facilities, disabled access, and hospitality spaces are basic and in need of

replacement/upgrade. The visual approach is untidy, with a disjointed variety of structures and architectural styles. As the majority of visitors approach from the car park to the north, there is a need for a main

entrance at this level, which would facilitate a reception, better access for people with disabilities, and the opportunity to provide a coffee bar/parent area which overlooks the outdoor spaces.

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Car Park – the car park not only facilitates visitors and parents, but is also used as a drill square by the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). There is an opportunity to increase the size of the car parking, forming a

larger, had-surfaced open space, and allow better circulation for visiting buses involved with the sports activities

Sports Hall – The existing sports hall is well used and serves an important role. The interior has recently undergone a series of mid-life improvements. The principal issue is that the Hall is not big enough for

National Standard Indoor Hockey, which is key to the school maintaining their level of achievement in this sport. A new indoor full sized hockey pitch, with space to facilitate spectators when the school host

top-level hockey, netball, basketball etc is paramount. Externally, the cladding to the sports hall, in a faded green, is quite visible and unattractive when approaching along the Causeway from Willington.

Squash Courts – the opportunity arises to replace the existing squash club with up-graded replacement facilities including new changing rooms as part of a comprehensive approach to the proposed

development

5.0 Constraints and opportunities

The existing site is very constrained, with the built form hemmed-in by topography to the North, flood plain to the south, with a small area of woodland to the west (see diagram below). The school is keen to maintain

the hub of sports facilities at the Willington Road location, there has been a significant investment in outdoor and indoor pitches here, the swimming pool will remain, and it is sensible to keep all changing and

associate social spaces in one location for efficient management, security and child safety. The only real location therefore is for the new indoor hockey pitch structure to the west of the existing sports hall, on the area

currently occupied by the squash club and storage buildings. The squash club can be integrated into the new structure, and ideally all should be linked to the main reception, without the need to go outdoors, the

challenge is to facilitate all of this is in the linear band to the south of the steep bank.

The existing Tanyard structure is well-located as it is central to the complex, connects to the majority of indoor facilities, and adjacent to the car park. It is sensible therefore to retain the changing, hospitality, and

provide a new main entrance and coffee bar in this location. To the south of the existing swimming pool, east of the Tanyard, is a large external terrace, which forms the roof of the single storey plant room for the main

swimming pool which sits below.

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NORTH

North-south Section

Constraints and Opportunities

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6.0 The design proposals

On the basis of the requirements of the brief, and the above constraints and opportunities, the scheme as submitted has 3 specific elements, these are indicated on the site plan below, and comprise a new Full Sized

Indoor Hockey Pitch to the west of the existing sports Hall, including storage for sports equipment, retractable seating for spectator events, and two new squash courts and changing facilities. The Tanyard Pavilion is

fully re-furbished and extended to the north, with a new entrance lobby to the south, and the new strength and conditioning suite is sited above the southern terrace behind the swimming pool. The car park is extended

to the north and east.

Propose site layout - NORTH

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Accommodation

In more detail, the new and re-furbished accommodation will comprise:

Western Extension

New Full sized indoor hockey Pitch

Large Sports Storeroom

2 no team dressing rooms with 2.no w.c.s, to facilitate visiting teams and squash club

Access lift to Squash Club Mezzanine

First floor social area, bar area, plant room and viewing gallery

2 no full glass-backed squash courts

Link corridor to Tanyard Pavilion with viewing platform above

Tanyard Ground Floor

5 no Team Changing rooms

Official Changing Room

Physio Changing Room

7.no Visitors, staff and pupil w.c.’s including access w.c.

Sports store and 2.no sports admin offices

Briefing/Seminar Room

New entrance reception including ramped access

Café Area

Southern Extension (above Swimming Pool plant room)

Strength and Conditioning Suite

Replacement entrance lobby and connecting corridor

Car Park

Extended car park to provide 19 extra spaces, and revised car parking layout to accommodate

visiting coach turning area

Tanyard First Floor

New enlarged Kitchen

Kitchen Store and furniture store

Visitor and staff w.c.’s

Extended and enlarged hospitality suites

External viewing terrace

Extended admin office

New rear ‘dirty’ entrance, raised deck and external boot wash area

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Floor Plans – New additions and re-furbished areas shown coloured

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Architectural Language

The existing architectural language is disjointed and unattractive. The original Old Gym is a fine brickwork structure, with steeply sloping, plain tiled roofs and dormer windows. The swimming pool is in red brickwork,

respecting the listed structure and the Tanyard. This building rises from predominantly single storey to the north, to 2-storey on the south. The roof is in profiled steel colour-coated blue-grey. The Tanyard is red-brick,

with a variety of tiled pitched roof and flat roofed areas. The existing sports hall is a portal framed building, shallow pitched roof, with red brick at ground floor level on the northern elevation, and green coloured profiled

steel cladding to walls and roof. The overall elevation presented upon approaching from the North is disjointed.

Principal approach from north-east

The architectural language of the new proposals respects and identifies with the new science priory on the elevated plane to the south. Wall are to be generally clad in dark and light grey profiled steel cladding, mainly

smooth with standing seam. The visual massing of the proposed new indoor hockey pitch building is broken using contrasting greys, areas of external brick/blockwork, and taking the opportunity to expose the

structure to the western end of the structure. Large areas of glazing form the frontage to the Tanyard, in order to maximise the potential for visitor and parents to watch the outdoor sporting activities. These are framed

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with long horizontal bands of powder coated aluminium cladding giving a visual horizontal emphasis. This serves to take the eye away from the variety of roof pitches behind. To the south, at the first floor level, the

existing entrance lobby and canopy are removed, and replaced with a similar architectural language.

New southern entrance lobby from south-west

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The language of the interior is to be contemporary and functional, with a mixture of exposed finishes and services, a bright interior maximising the use of north-light where appropriate and low energy lighting where

required.

Entrance reception

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7.0 Heritage Impact Assessment

The map below is an extract from the South Derbyshire District Council online mapping, and indicates that the site is generally beyond the conservation area (edged yellow), and as discussed previously, includes the

Old gymnasium, which is a grade II listed building.

The listing, taken from the website of historic Enlgand reads as follows:

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GYMNASIUM AND ATTACHED GATES, REPTON SCHOOL List Entry Summary This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. Name: GYMNASIUM AND ATTACHED GATES, REPTON SCHOOL L List entry Number: 1096514 Location:GYMNASIUM AND ATTACHED GATES, REPTON SCHOOL, WILLINGTON ROAD PARISH OF REPTON WILLINGDON ROAD SK 30/3127 SK 30/3126 6/99 (West Side) Gymnasium and Attached Gates, Repton School II Gymnasium. 1907 by Forsyth & Maule with Colonel Robert Edis. Red brick with plain tile half hipped roof and one brick gable stack. Single storey over a basement. South elevation articulated by four buttresses with two set-offs with dentils below. Ground floor entrance has a round-arched doorway with double doors and Diocletian windows over, flanked by cross windows with segmental relieving arches. Two similar windows above, flanking a similar but larger mullioned and transomed window. The north elevation also has four buttresses. The basement has a segmental arched doorway to the right, two single light windows and a 2-light window. The ground floor has three tall transomed windows, the centre one of 2-lights. Circular louvred ventilator above. West and east elevations of nine bays, divided by buttresses with two set-offs. The ground floor has 2-light windows with segmental relieving arches and the first floor has cross windows with flat heads, except in the last two bays to the south, which differ slightly on each elevation. Four hipped roof dormers to east and west. Low wall attached at south east corner and linked to four rusticated brick gate piers with moulded stone caps. Wrought iron gates and railings. The roof of the gymnasium is supported by arched steel girder trusses.

Listing NGR: SK3013527154

The proposal submitted, does not physically connect into, or alter the existing listed structure. The existing relationship between the listed structure and the swimming pool building is illustrated on the images below

22. View from north - Old gym on the LHS, swimming Pool on RHS 23.swimming pool terrace from the south 21. swimming pool terrace from the west looking toward listed building

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The addition of the strength and conditioning suite to the first floor terrace on the south of the swimming pool area, is the only proposal which might affect the setting of the listed building. The elevation below indicates the proposal which is to add a profiled steel, colour-coated wall, with 2 no full height glazed panels at first floor level. Feedback from John Somers MRTPI, on behalf on SDDC date 17th October 2016, clarified that additions to the later school buildings would be suitable providing that the material are of a high quality and subservient to the listed building. The choice of material, being contrasting and contemporary, are therefore considered not to compromise the setting of the listed building.

Proposed east elevation

8.0 Noise

This proposal is to enhance existing facilities, and as such, will not increase noise levels beyond those currently generated by school sports activities.

9.0 Drainage (SUDS) and Flood risk

The attached Flood Risk Assessment consider flood risk and drainage.

10.0 Trees/Ecology

The attached tree report and ecological assessment discuss the existing conditions and makes recommendations of the requirements for the development going forward.

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11.0 Access Considerations

The existing highways access is taken from Willington Road, which is a busy thoroughfare, this remains unaltered. As discussed previously, the revised car parking layout indicates how visiting coaches may turn

within the site, unhindered by the proposed car parking layout. Service vehicle access is retained along the north of the proposed development in order that the indoor tennis courts can be accessed from the Willington

Road Entrance.

With regards to accessibility, this proposal significantly improves the opportunities for sports for people with disabilities. Currently the approach from the main car park is up a series of steps, due to the level

differences. The proposal offers a ramped approach, taking visitors to the level served by the existing lift between the two storeys. A further ramp is added in the ground floor central corridor, in order to address the

differences in levels between the existing buildings, hence the majority of existing and new spaces become fully accessible by wheelchair. Ground and first floor access w.c’s are provided, and a further lift is added to

the west, to service the new squash club and bar area . All of the new proposals will be designed to comply with Approved document M of the building regulations.

12.0 Planning Policy

Clause 28 of the NPPF 2012 encourages local authorities to promote the retention and development of existing sports facilities in order to promote the rural economies and retain a sustainable community.

Policy INF9 of the 2016 Adopted South Derbyshire Local Plan, further supports the need for the Local authority to support the retention and development of existing sporting facilities.

On the basis of the above, and following a positive pre-application meeting and discussion on site between the Matthew Montague Architect, and Steve Mott - Principal area planning officer, the proposed scheme is

considered to accord with current planning policies.

The above D & A statement has been compiled by Matthew Montague BA (hons) DipArch RIBA on behalf of Repton School

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Appendix A – Diagram of Plate

locations