Steiner school to move ahead with new classroom building
An independent school in Edinburgh has been granted permission to construct a new building in its grounds as part of its early years expansion plans.
Edinburgh Steiner School at Spylaw Road in Polwarth has been granted permission by the council’s planning department to create a new single-storey, timberclad structure along the east boundary wall to house two classrooms, a cloakroom and toilet facilities, to accommodate younger pupils.
Council planners said the proposals will “preserve the character and setting of the listed building” and are acceptable. The new building needs to be built within three years, with the school currently fundraising to pay for the works.
Alistair Pugh, a management team member at the school said: “It’s part of a wider project called ‘Growing Spaces’, where we have been expanding our facilities over the years. We have already converted a 19th Century C-listed Coach House and adjoined second coach house into 21st Century classrooms and creative arts spaces.
“As we are expanding our early years we are finding we need more space. Some of our younger children are currently in a space not designed for younger ones. So this new building will be a space purpose-built with younger children in mind. A much brighter and greener building.”
The school currently offer spaces for up to 80 children a day from age two. The construction programme is likely to be based around the school and term breaks and carefully managed to allow the school to continue to operate while construction is taking place.