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Dear Dargavel community member
As we approach the end of the school term, I am writing to update you on our work to build a new additional primary school in Dargavel.
As you may be aware, the formal consultation on the new school's location and catchment was completed earlier this year with over 800 respondents giving their views. Councillors then gave approval in May for the new school to be built on Site E1, the land at the north end of Craigton Drive.
Over recent months we have been working on some outline designs for the new school. This was work that was required to be started regardless of location, and doing so keeps us on track for the planned opening date for the new school of August 2027.
The design work to date has been informed by the comprehensive space-planning exercise we did in late 2023, where more than 600 people told us what they would want from a new school with community facilities. We have also considered the extensive feedback we received during the formal consultation earlier this year.
Over the summer we will continue to engage with the community on developing designs for the new school.
In July, we will be submitting a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) which is a statutory process associated with major development planning applications. This is the initial stage of the formal planning process which sets out our intention as developers of the new school site to submit a full planning application following engagement with the community.
As part of the PAN process we will be holding two local public events at which the architects’ concept designs will go on show. This will allow the community to put their views directly to the Council as the developer before a planning application is submitted.
Your feedback will form part of the work we need to do ahead of the full planning application due to be lodged before the end of the year. We expect these two events will take place during August and September, and we will be in touch with dates and venues once confirmed.
Current school
I also want to briefly update you on some ongoing work at the existing Dargavel Primary School.
Internal works—Internal alterations to improve the acoustic issues raised at Dargavel Primary are well underway. During the Easter holidays, work was carried out to erect a wall between a large open plan classroom to create two individual classrooms and improve acoustic levels between classes. Further work is due to commence during the summer holidays to install partitions to open plan atrium areas. This will create a sound barrier between the ground and first floor and will be complete for schools returning after the holidays.
In our last update we mentioned we would be taking forward work on a drop-off/pick-up area next to the existing primary school. Designs are currently progressing for this area and as part of the ongoing engagement over the summer period, we will work with the community to help shape these before progressing to procurement and planning permission stage. The construction of this area will be season/weather dependent, and we will keep you updated as work progresses.
If you have any other questions in the meantime, please contact us at our dedicated email address at dargavelcs@renfrewshire.gov.uk. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a good summer break.
Yours sincerely
Gerry Lyons
Interim Head of Education
Renfrewshire Council
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