Planning

North Ayrshire Schools

Brief

Keppie was appointed by First Class Consortium for the refurbishment and extension of four North Ayrshire schools: Greenwood Academy, St Matthew's Academy, Stanley Primary and Arran High School.  As part of this appointment Keppie Planning and Development provided planning services; managing the submission of planning applications, the discharge of conditions associated with all planning consents and providing ongoing planning advice as required.

Response

Keppie Planning and Development submitted applications for Planning Permission or Approval of Reserved Matters for all four schools.  Following the grant of consent for all four schools Keppie Planning and Development managed the projects through the planning system and advised the project team on the various conditions of each consent.  As a priority we collated and submitted the necessary information to ensure pre-start planning conditions were discharged as quickly as possible, allowing the construction of the schools to proceed without delay.  Subsequently we ensured that outstanding information relating to all other planning conditions, including pre-occupation conditions, were appropriately discharged to meet the project deadlines.  Keppie Planning and Development also advised the project team on the planning implications of various design changes that were required as the project progressed.  Approval of such changes, as Non-Material Variations, were formally secured through exchange of letters with North Ayrshire Council.

Outcome

Significant issues existed for the St. Matthew's Academy relocation.  Many local people were concerned about the perceived loss of the main open space as a result of the new school.  Keppie Planning and Development attended a number of public meetings and Planning Committee reviews, eventually persuading the various interest groups that public amenity would not be lost.  Planning consent was granted for all four schools in September and October 2005.  Following the discharge of all relevant planning conditions all schools were completed and occupied in 2007 and 2008.

Team