Green light for multi-million pound development at school

St Ronan’s College will now set about developing its new campus on the site of the the former St Michael’s Grammar school on Cornakinnegar Road.

Approval has been granted for retrospective demolition of the existing school buildings and refurbishment of the existing Chapel.

The new facility will house two new grass playing fields, one new synthetic playing field an associated changing pavilion, tennis courts, car parking and dedicated bus parking.

Landscaping and site works will ensure the site has pedestrian and vehicular access points from both North Circular Road and Cornakinnegar Road. This work will also see junction improvements at both roads.

The new building will have room for 1,750 pupils and will be three storeys to the front, reducing to two storeys with one storey for the Design and Technology suite.

With a search for a site for the new school beginning in 2014, SDLP councillor Declan McAlinden, asked if any further delays were anticipated.

A council officer told him no delays were anticipated and the new development had a build time of 20-25 months given the sizeable program of works.

Alliance Party Councillor Peter Lavery asked for detail of the propose travel plan and sought assurance that the Chapel, while not a listed building, would not be damaged during construction.

He also sought assurance that, given the close proximity to St Colman’s graveyard that work on the site would not disrupt any funeral that may be taking place.

A council officer said he had no doubt that all possible measures will be taken to ensure the building will remain intact during the construction process.

Cllr Lavery was also advised that the travel plan is a “live document” and that a stakeholder liaison will ensure special events or funerals are respected.

Councillor Paul Duffy enquired about the lack of floodlights to be installed on the pitches and said it would be helpful to install these at the beginning to create a strong link with the local community.

He was advised that floodlights had originally been proposed for the synthetic pitch but an impact assessment suggested they would have an effect on bats in the area.

Cllr Duffy then suggested that should the school wish to revisit this in the future, they would be wise to get the cables installed now as it can be “a big cost at a later stage”.

Cllr McAlinden said he was of the view it would be good for floodlighting to be introduced at a later stage and expressed his anticipation for this development to be “one of the best facilities around”.

Councillor Sam Nicholson described the proposal as a “very well put together application”. He then proposed the recommendation to grant planning approval.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Declan McAlinden with the committee expressing its support for the proposal.

Speaking after the decision was confirmed, Cllr McAlinden told the the committee it had been a “long time in the making”.

“I want to thank the planning team for the way in which they dealt with this application,” said Cllr McAlinden.

“I also want to say a huge thank-you to Principal Fiona Kane and her predecessor Mrs Michelle Corkey, the project team within the school and their excellent partners for the work that has been done to get this over the line.”

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Lavery said the decision would be a welcome boost for Lurgan as a whole.

“This will come as welcome news for the town,” said Cllr Lavery. “Especially for students and teachers of St Ronan’s.

“It will also be a boost for the local economy with construction jobs being created to make this planning approval a reality.

“This has been a long process for the school with students currently spread over two separate sites but hopefully progress will now be swift and the build will be completed within a few quick years.”