Alternative site for Down High probed

Alternative site for Down High probed

11 June 2014

THE long-awaited redevelopment of Down High School is facing further delays while education officials investigate a potential new site.

Plans to redevelop a new multi-million pound complex on a greenfield site at the Strangford Road area of Downpatrick have been temporarily postponed while officials examine an alternative site at Ardglass Road.

The Ardglass Road site emerged when education officials carried out an obligatory trawl of available public sector land as they began to finalise arrangements for the purchase of the Strangford Road site, which was granted outline planning approval for the development of the new school five years ago.

This trawl, which was carried out in line with government guidance, revealed the availability of the alternative land, which officials have deemed potentially suitable at first sight.

The SEELB is now carrying out a full traffic impact assessment to establish the effect the construction of the new school at Ardglass Road would have on the wider area.

The traffic assessment will not begin until September when school traffic is at its height, meaning the school’s redevelopment faces further delays.

Once completed, education officials will be able to identify the preferred site and complete their economic appraisal.

“At this point the Department will be approached for both approval and funding to procure and appoint a fully integrated external design team to design the new facilities to such a level of detail that will allow for a full planning application to be made,” an SEELB spokesman said.

“The Board will continue to work with the Department to achieve the best outcome for the school in line with official guidance, planning requirements and best value for the public purse.”

A Department of Education spokesman said both the Department and the South Eastern Education and Library Board had been engaged in progressing Down High School’s redevelopment since the Minister pledged it should go ahead 18 months ago.

“This is, like all new school builds, a significant and complex project,” he said.

“This traffic assessment is just one of a range of inputs required to inform the suitability of the various sites being considered and is central to the due process involved in delivering any new school build.” 

Strangford Assemblyman David McNarry has expressed his disappointment with the delays, which he said were affecting pupils, parents and teachers in one of Northern Ireland’s prestigious schools.

“This is an unacceptable situation fraught with tensions and unhelpful rumours,” he said.

“Worst of all, parents and potential parents are being left in the dark about their children’s future education.

“It now seems the choice could be made on a traffic impact assessment between the Ardglass Road and the Strangford Road when the choice should be made on what is best for the pupils now and in the future, their parents and the teaching staff.”

However, despite the delays over the Ardglass Road, Down High School principal, Mr. Paul Logan, said he remained hopeful that the school’s redevelopment would soon go ahead at Strangford Road.

“The school assisted the South Eastern Education and Library Board so that planning permission for a new build on the site at Strangford Road could be obtained,”’ he said.

“It is our hope and expectation that the education and library board will submit a revised economic appraisal which will enable the design of a new build at Strangford Road to start as soon as possible.”