Permission has been granted for new classrooms and other facilities at St. Patrick’s College in Banbridge.
The new provision will include a two-storey double modular classroom unit to provide a 90m2 Home Economics classroom, 30m2 resource/technician’s room, a 45m2 multi-purpose room on the ground floor, and two 60m2 general classrooms on the first floor with associated ancillary spaces.
The ambitious approved plans will involve the re-organisation of the existing school, with two of the new classrooms to replace overflow classrooms within the existing school building.
ABC Planning officers wrote in their report: “The proposed extension will be erected on a tarmac area marked out as school playground to the rear of the existing school building.
“Other information submitted with the application is as follows: a letter from Mrs [Roisin] Woods, principal of St. Patrick’s College, explaining the current library situation at St. Patrick’s College by stating ‘The library was repurposed into two general classrooms, but we now need this to be reinstated as a library to accommodate our post-16 provision and support literacy development’.
“A letter received from the adjacent Gaelic Football Club, Clann Na Banna, confirming that they agree to facilitate St. Patrick’s College staff and community to the use of their car park.
“Two classes are being taught in the library. Due to pupil numbers an additional Home Economics suite is required.
“This tacitly admits that pupil numbers have already increased beyond that which the school was designed to accommodate.
“The existing traffic congestion at start and finish of school days has already seen an increase due to the additional attendance.
“The Department will not permit development that would result in the loss of existing open space.
“An exception will be permitted where it is clearly shown that redevelopment will bring substantial community benefits that decisively outweigh the loss of the open space.
“The school principal has provided a letter stating that the reorganisation of the school estate is necessary to support the effective delivery of their school curriculum.
“The letter also explains that the school has currently only one Home Economics suite to support the delivery of Home Economics and other related subjects to approximately 700 students.
“This is not adequate, and the additional Home Economics suite will alleviate the burden on their current provision.
“The multi-purpose room will be utilised for group work, independent pupil learning, research and audio-visual presentations, and the resource/technicians area shall be utilised for the preparation and storage of food, storage of equipment, laundry, and an office area.
“Officers consider that the proposal will produce such community benefit that it will decisively outweigh its loss [of open space] with the new facility, providing much needed additional classroom facilities to allow the school to effectively deliver their school curriculum.
“Officers also note that adequate open space areas remain within the school grounds for pupils to use.
“The proposed school extension is therefore considered to be acceptable in principle.
“The proposed extension (…) will be in keeping with the existing school building and will not adversely impact the visual discourse of the area.”
Concerns regarding increased traffic congestion are raised within the report, however the proposed measures to help remedy the situation are deemed to be adequate by planning officers: “The proposed extension will utilise the existing school entrance onto the Scarva Road and the existing school car park.
“DfI Roads has considered the proposal and have raised some concerns that no additional parking/drop off points are proposed for the extension, and that there is the potential for increased congestion on the Scarva Road.
“The school has confirmed a number of measures to help reduce traffic congestion at peak times.
“Parents are currently and will continue to be instructed to park at St Thérèse’s [Church] car park. Pupils walk the short distance to school.
“The adjacent Gaelic Football Club, Clann Na Banna, has confirmed in a letter that they agree to facilitate St. Patrick’s College staff and community to the use of their car park.
“Car-parking spaces will be available each day for visitor use in the main school car park.
“Deliveries to the school shall be scheduled outside collection/drop-off times.
“Taking into account all of the above, officers are satisfied that the proposal will not involve an increase in pupil numbers within the school, that it involves a re-organisation of the school estate and does not represent an intensification in use.
“Officers consider that the measures proposed by the school will help alleviate any congestion issues.”
