Virtual meeting on plan to replace schools
A committee will this week consider a report setting out how the local authority intends to progress its plans to replace two primary school buildings in Perth with one facility.
Councillors will be asked to put forward their opinions on a proposal to build a brand new school building for pupils at North Muirton Primary School and Balhousie Primary School during a virtual meeting taking place tomorrow.
It follows two public consultation events held earlier this year where parents learned the plan is to build the new school on land south of the existing North Muirton Primary School.
Balhousie is scheduled to close in 2022, with the pupils being integrated into North Muirton.
A paper going before the committee tomorrow says officials have decided reports discussing the development’s likely impact on landscape and local residential amenity will need to be prepared but have not yet decided whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required.
However the document goes on to say even if officials decide an EIA is not required, planning staff will still need to see design and access statements, a transport assessment and a tree survey before they can determine a planning application for the new school.
The report continues: “The agent advises that, as the project progresses beyond the preapplication consultation period, PKC will carry out additional consultation activities and information sharing.
“A user reference group (URG) will be formed and will meet periodically during the design process.
“A variety of stakeholders will be invited to form the URG, including representation from the community council, parent council, local members, nonteaching staff, teaching staff and members of the design team.
“The group will discuss design plans, traffic management plans, timescales and other relevant project information.
“Throughout the project there will be engagement with the school management team, wider staff and students to inform the developing detailed design.
“In addition, bulletins in the school newsletter will update parents/carers on the progress of the project.
“It is also intended that a further public drop-in session will take place in the form of an informal information event to share more developed designs with members of the public.
“This will be held when the base plan is agreed and access/egress/ external landscape proposals have been developed sufficiently.
“The results of the community consultation will be submitted with the planning application as part of the required PAC report.”
The paper concludes: “This report summarises the key issues which should be considered as part of the appraisal of any subsequent planning application which may be lodged in respect of this development, and members are recommended to note these key issues and advise officers of any other issues which they consider should be included as part of the application and assessment.”
The committee is scheduled to consider and comment on the report tomorrow morning.