New secondary school at Site Of Forres Academy/Applegrove/Roysvale, Forres

What was proposed

The application proposed a three-storey replacement secondary school with support-needs teaching, community facilities, sports provision, parking and bus drop-off.

“Planning permission is sought for the erection of a replacement secondary school, additional support needs teaching facilities, community facilities, associated hard and soft landscaping, sports provision, 3G pitch, car parking and bus drop-off on the site of Forres Academy, Applegrove and Roysvale Park. • The new school will be 3-storey in height with plant equipment on the roof which includes air source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems.”

“Flood mitigation measures. • Hard and soft landscaping. • The existing grass football pitch and athletics track within Roysvale Park will remain in use during and after construction. • The proposed school is for a ‘5-18 community shared campus’, which will be accessible to the public; it will be able to offer sports classes, recreation sessions, activity clubs, range of fitness classes, community group meetings and social activities.”

Officer report

The site

The 8.9-hectare site covered Applegrove Playing Field, Roysvale Park, the existing academy and sports land near Forres town centre.

“The site is located within the settlement boundary of Forres 250m south of the Town Centre on Applegrove Playing Field, Roysvale Park and the existing Forres Academy site. It extends to 8.9 (ha). Land to the south west of the existing Forres Academy, across the Mosset Burn, is also included within the site. This is used by the existing Forres Academy for sports. • The site is located in a mixed-use area which is largely residential.”

“In addition, there is a satellite site to the south, connected by footpaths from the main campus, which provides additional grass playing fields. • The part of the site where the new school is proposed is covered by an ENV4 designation “Applegrove Primary School” (as defined in the Moray Local Development Plan 2020 (MLDP settlement Statement for Forres) South of this, there are four further ENV4 designations on the site, “Roysvale”, “Playing Field (Mosset Burn)”, “Playing…”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Approval was recommended because the new school was essential infrastructure and the proposal was considered acceptable under national and local planning policies.

“The new school is essential community infrastructure required to deliver a key objective of the Moray Council. The proposed development represents a significant and positive opportunity to replace the existing school with a modern, fit-for-purpose facility, while also enhancing sports and community facilities for the benefit of both students and the wider community.”

“Subject to conditions where recommended, the siting, design and servicing arrangements for the replacement school are considered acceptable with no unacceptable or significant adverse impact identified upon the appearance and amenity of the development plan and/or the surrounding area.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Key consultees raised no objections, subject to conditions covering biodiversity, access, flooding, sport, environmental health, transport and construction.

“Environmental Health – No objection subject to conditions relating to construction works permitted hours, a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP), type of lighting on the 3G pitch and its permitted hours of use, the hours of permitted use of the 3G pitch, the design and materials of the containment boards for the 3G pitch, the type of fencing for the 3G pitch, a noise management plan for the 3G pitch, hours of operation of the dance and fitness studio, design and…”

“Transportation Manager – No objection subject to conditions relating to a Phasing and Construction Plan; evidence being submitted to confirm that the statutory process to promote the Stopping Up of the Sanquhar Road Cycle Track to enable the provision of the new bus lay-by has commenced; evidence being submitted to confirm that the statutory process to promote new and amended waiting restrictions on Orchard Road, Sanquhar Road and Burdsyard Road has commenced; the proposed…”

Officer report

What people said

Most representations objected, citing the site, design, traffic, parking, construction impacts, flooding, open space, privacy, noise and loss of community land.

“Objection Loss of Privacy Parking Reduction of natural light Road Access Road Safety Traffic View affected Affecting natural light Drainage Litter Over-development of site Poor design Smell Inadequate Plans Dust Height of proposed development Noise Affecting natural environment Legal issues Loss of privacy (being overlooked) Poor design Procedures not followed correctly Activity at unsociable hours/behaviour Community Council / Association Consult Out of Time Objection…”

“Placing a community facility at Applegrove Playing Field will likely result in the loss of facilities and economic decline on Forres High Street. Any community facilities moved to the Academy site will not be available to the community with the same flexibility and open access as they are now. This will result in loss of available amenities to the community, not gain.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

Councillors Macrae, Warren and van der Horn spoke, while officers answered questions about education, flooding, road orders, pitch materials and planting.

Committee debate

Members supported the proposal but sought assurances that flood measures and road orders would be secured before irreversible project stages.

“Councillor Warren seconded the motion however sought assurance that flood mitigations and road orders would be in place before irreversible stages of the project to avoid any potential delay.”

“Councillor van der Horn noted that one common concern raised by members of the public was in relation to the bus drop-off and pick-up site and queried whether the street tree planting at Sanquhar Road could be improved to give additional privacy to the houses on that road.”

Minutes

The decision and conditions

The committee unanimously adopted the habitat assessment and granted permission, adding conditions for environmentally acceptable pitch material, drainage filtration and more tree planting.

“There being no-one otherwise minded, the Committee unanimously agreed to:”

“(i) adopt the conclusions of Habitat Regulation Appropriate Assessment Appraisal as summarised in the Observations section of the report, where adequate mitigation is proposed; and (ii) grant planning permission, as recommended, in respect of Planning Application 25/01203/APP subjection to the following conditions and reasons including: • a further condition stating that the use of cork or another similar environmentally acceptable product be used when the 3G pitch is being…”

Minutes