Early planning proposals have been lodged for a new primary school in Inverness.
A proposal of application for Ness Side Primary school has been lodged by Highland Council naming Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design, Glasgow as agent.
Stallan-Brand designed Broomlands Primary School, Kelso for Scottish Borders Council. The dramatic building is currently on the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland’s 19-strong shortlist of buildings for its 2019 awards.
The application is for a new primary school with nursery provision in Dornoch Road on the Ness Castle estate.
The school will also incorporate opportunities for community facilities.
It will serve the new housing developments in the area, including Ness Side, an 850-home estate currently under construction.
The application says the school will be delivered in two phases in line with the growth of housing in the area and projected increase in school rolls.
There will be a range of external features including age specific playgrounds, playing fields, external enclosures and associated access roads, paths, street lighting and car parking.
A public consultation is proposed for April 29 at Inverness Royal Academy, with the intention also to consult local residents’ associations, local housing associations, adjacent landowners and Ness Castle Country House.
Local councillor Ron MacWilliam welcomed the early proposals, but advised flexibility in the design to cope with increasing numbers of children.
He said: “The school roll is likely to start at 200 and rise to 600 with the housing going up round about.
“The important thing is to make sure there’s enough flexibility in the plan to be sure they can add to it.
“The quality of the design and future-proofing it is essential.”
“The initial building of Ness Side primary will immediately relieve built up pressure on the neighbouring schools, what we need to make sure is that we don’t store up problems for year two, three or four.
“That’s when the additional capacity of the school is going to have to come on stream at a time that is planned as well as it can be, perhaps two years in advance.”
Mr MacWilliam added that local residents were increasingly concerned about traffic speeds on the nearby distributor road.
He said: “Distributor road traffic needs to calm right down so that there is a sense of community in that area, rather than children having to make their way to school through a rat race.”