Planning approval has been granted for the erection of a sports hall and fitness suite with associated ancillary accommodation at Lurgan College.
Also approved is the demolition of an existing teaching block and removal of five modular classrooms.
In addition, there are plans for the construction of an extension to a teaching block and associated site works, to include the resurfacing of the existing tennis courts and other works.
As Lurgan College is a listed building, planning consent had to be sought separately, as part of a second planning application.
Speaking at a recent ABC Planning & Regulatory Services committee meeting, principal planning officer, Sinead McAvoy told committee members: “The school is a grade B1 listed building, and the new extension [as well as] the new-build element lie within the curtilage of the listed building. As such, all these require listed building consent.
“The proposed development is not considered to conflict with any of the policies within the local development plan, however officers are of the opinion that because the application site is not zoned for educational purposes, the proposed development is not fully compliant with the plan.
“Officers have fully considered [the relevant policy], concluding that this proposal will result in substantial benefits to the community that decisively outweigh the loss of open space.
“The design, layout and landscape treatment have all been fully considered by officers, and we are content that these finishes will complement the existing school building, and this is also being corroborated by Historic Environment Division (HEC) in relation to listed buildings.
“As with any large development, there has to be a phasing plan. The first [phase] is to construct the new sports hall. That will involve the removal of five trees, but there is a group of 40 there, so we’re content.
“The second will be the demolition of the changing block and one mobile.
“The third phase will be the construction of the new teaching block and refurbishment of the tennis courts.
“The fourth will be decanted into the teaching blocks, and then finally remove all the remaining mobiles.
“The sports hall element of it is actually a stand-alone building adjacent to the existing pitches.”
Councillor Kyle Moutray had a query regarding car-parking capacity in the redeveloped school: “I know the parking survey is satisfied, but can I ask, is there any actual extension to the number of parking spaces for both staff and pupils?
“Just maybe cognisant of that ever being a problem further down the line if the school was to get bigger, or if that was going to be problematic to residents, because as an elected representative, that’s something I hear time and time again, parking seems to be an issue at every school.”
The senior council officer informed the Portadown representative: “There’s no increase in car parking, however the existing hard surface area is going to be realigned out in car parking.
“There is an existing LBG tank that’s in the car-parking area which is going to be removed, so it will indirectly make for more car parking.
“But simply because there’s no increase in pupil numbers or staff numbers, they’re content that the existing arrangement is okay.”
Cllr Moutray said he knew only too well how badly needed the proposed redevelopment scheme was at Lurgan College: “I’m a past pupil of the school, so I’m aware of the need for this.
“I think the school has had a lot of false dawns in terms of their redevelopment, and so this is very much needed. There has been a huge reliance on modular buildings.
“I know they’ll welcome the modernised sports hall as well. That’ll be great and it’ll follow on in the rich vein of sporting success the school’s had.
“It’s very ambitious and it follows on a lot of the redevelopment for schools locally, and you only have to look at some of the schools that have been redeveloped here, they’re unrecognisable in comparison to where they were maybe five or 10 years ago.
“I’m very satisfied with the report, and I would be more than content to approve this one.”
Councillor Julie Flaherty was just as enthusiastic about the plans: “I have to agree with Cllr Moutray, there’s an actual need for this development, so I also would be more than happy to approve this.
“And as a past pupil of Portadown College, I hope it’s the next one on the schedule, because if any school needs it, it’s that one.”
As the debate concluded, the recommendation to approve planning approval for the redevelopment scheme at Lurgan College was formally proposed by Cllr Moutray, and seconded by Cllr Flaherty.
As there was a separate recommendation to approve planning consent – this being required when a building is listed – Cllr Moutray similarly proposed approval of the recommendation, and Cllr Flaherty seconded it.
