IGB – Permanent School Planning Application

The Department of Education has lodged a planning application for the construction of the permanent school buildings on the old IGB site. (The school buildings currently on site are temporary buildings.) They are planning to construct a 16-classroom primary school and a 1,000 pupil secondary school. 

The proposed secondary school is to be part 4 storey and includes the provision of 1 no. general purpose hall and 1 no. PE hall and c. 1,374 sqm rooftop play space including 2 no. ball courts. The proposed primary school is to be part 3 storey and is to include the provision of 1 no. general purpose hall and a c. 489 sqm rooftop play space. The development will also include the provision of 6 no. ballcourts; all hard and soft play areas including an outdoor gym area; sensory gardens, the removal of most of the existing trees etc. They appear to be including the possibility of another smaller pedestrian entrance on the south (Taney Avenue) side, however it is uncertain if this will be opened. They state on the plans: “Potential future pedestrian & cycle access point. Works required by Others to facilitate pedestrian/cycle permeability route to Taney Avenue.“.

You can see some photo montages taken from the planning application below. You can find all planning documents on the DLR website, the planning reference is: D24A/0619. The final date for observations is 16th Sep 2024.

Update 27/9/24: Please see here for the observation we submitted in respect of this planning application.

Update 4/10/24: The Council has reverted with a “Request for Further Information“. Disappointingly the planners don’t appear to have an issue with the proposed unnecessary raising of the ground level, or the overbearing impact on one particular residence. The Planner’s Report can be found here. The Department has 6 months to respond.