Two-storey extension with additional car parking approved for Ballyclare Primary School
Planning permission was granted for a new extension to Ballyclare Primary School, at a meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee, at Mossley Mill, on Monday evening (March 16).
The proposal is for a two-storey extension at the front of the existing school building at Doagh Road and removal of temporary mobile accommodation. The development plan includes the demolition of a two-storey building on site.
A committee report said the site comprises a former two-storey school building which is no longer in use, the main school building and several mobile classroom buildings as well as play and car parking areas. Ballyclare Primary School was built in 1880.
The proposal is to provide a two-storey extension to the existing school building which will “facilitate and support the school’s commitment to providing high quality education and pastoral support in the area”.
The existing core school building is comprised of 14 classrooms and support spaces, with an additional seven temporary classrooms, the report said.
Supporting information indicates it is “recognised that Ballyclare Primary School’s existing facilities do not meet the present needs of the school or the accommodation standard”.
“It is therefore proposed to provide a two-storey extension to the existing school building which will facilitate and support the school’s commitment to providing high quality education and pastoral support in the area,” the report continued.
The development plan is for an additional nine classrooms on two floors. The ground floor will accommodate four additional classrooms, two stairwells (one inclusive of a lift), cloakroom and toilet facilities together with ancillary spaces. The first floor will accommodate five classrooms, stairwells, cloakroom and toilet facilities as well as ancillary spaces.
The report noted: ” It is considered that the design, lay-out, and appearance of the proposed extension including its scale and massing are considered acceptable.
“It is considered that the removal of the temporary classrooms from the road frontage location will aid the regeneration of the site and ultimately provide a better outlook along the road frontage.”
Access to the school will be retained at Doagh Road. Dixon Park playing fields and Ballyclare Secondary School are located to the south of the site. It is also noted a new temporary access is proposed to serve construction vehicles located to the west of the site via an access used to serve Ballyclare Secondary School.
“It is considered that the proposal will not prejudice road safety or significantly inconvenience the flow of traffic,” the report stated.
The proposal includes an additional 12 car parking spaces, providing a total of 36 parking spaces inclusive of two accessible spaces with ten overflow spaces provided at Ballyclare Secondary School. Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Roads has not raised any concerns with the parking arrangements, councillors were told.
Planning officer Alicia Leathem told the committee there are 560 pupils enrolled at the school and 69 staff members with no increase expected in the number of students or staff. She said the proposal will “deliver a permanent extension to the school and replace mobile provision”.
Macedon Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster proposed accepting the recommendation to approve the application, seconded by Threemilewater DUP Cllr Sam Flanagan. Following a vote, planning permission was approved unanimously.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter