Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which advised of an appeal which had been upheld by the Scottish Government in relation to Bishops Court, 29 Albyn Place (131464).

The report also set out the proposed new procedure to be adopted in respect of the new Pre-Application Forum which was to be established following the publication of ‘Guidance on the Role of Councillors in Pre-Application Procedures’ by the Scottish Government, in conjunction with the Commissioner on Ethical Standards in Public Life, and COSLA.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to note the outcome of the appeal; and

(ii)          to note the procedure to be adopted in terms of the new Pre-Application Forum.

-        RAMSAY MILNE, Convener.

COUNTESSWELLS DEVELOPMENT (140438) - EDUCATION COMMENTS

1.            DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTION

Negotiations are on-going with the developer and high level agreement has been reached that 2 primary schools and 50% of a secondary school will be required from the Countesswells development. The contribution includes serviced land and the capital cost of construction which will be indexed linked to the Building

2.            TIMESCALE FOR NEW SCHOOLS

Primary School

Based on the housing build programme and the expected yield per house of 0.35 pupils it is anticipated that the first primary school will be required to be completed and open by August 2017. The second primary school is required by 2019/20.

The projected pupil roll figures are based on the rate of house building specified by the developer. Should the actual development proceed at a lower rate, the numbers of pupils projected to arrive in the early year of the development would be lower than currently projected. It has been agreed with the developer that a review of pupil numbers arriving from the development will be conducted every 6 months. This will provide detailed information on when the school build is required, however Education, Culture and Sport planning has assumed the first primary school is needed for August 2017.

Secondary School

The area for the development lies within the zone of Hazlehead Academy and Cults Academy. The table below highlights the total projected additional roll of pupils who will come from the Countesswells development. It is recommended that a new secondary school is constructed for August 2020/21.

3.            INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS

Primary School

For Primary education the Countesswells development is split between the zones for Cults School and Airyhall School. The majority of the development area is within the Airyhall zone.

Until there is a requirement for a new primary school in 2017/18 in Countesswells, pupils will attend primary education which will be managed by Airyhall School, which has a capacity of 360 pupils. Based on the projected pupil rolls of 2013, and taking account of the Countesswells development, the following numbers of pupils are anticipated in the next 5 years. In addition to Airyhall, there are 9 classrooms and 2 General Purpose areas in Braeside School which is intended to be utilised to accommodate pupils in the short term before a new school building is completed. 

Secondary

The area for the development lies within the zone of Hazlehead Academy. The school has a capacity of 1,008 pupils and the table below highlights the projected roll and those pupils within that roll who are expected to arrive from the Countesswells development.