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& Galloway Steve Rogers Operations Manager Planning Services Kirkbank, English Street, Dumfries, DGI 2HS Telephone (01387) 260199 - Direct Dial Fax (01387) 260188

DEMOLITION OF EXISTING DRAMA BUILDING AND COVERED WALKWAY, ERECTION OF THREE STOREY LINK BLOCK INCORPORATING DINING, DRAMA, KITCHEN AND CLASSROOM ACCOMMODATION, INSTALLATION OF LIFT BETWEEN A & C BLOCKS AT DOUGLAS EWART HIGH SCHOOL, CORSBIE ROAD, NEWTON STEWART

APPLICANT: DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY COUNCIL REF. NO.: 101P1110015

Recommendation by Operations Manager Planning Services -

Decision - Approve subject to conditions

Case Officer - Alex Laidler

Hierarchy Type - Local

1 BACKGROUND

1.1 The Scheme of Delegation for Local Developments under Section 43(A) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended by the Planning Etc (Scotland) Act 2006 requires that applications where the Council as planning authority is the applicant or owns the land are required to be determined by Area Committee. This application falls within that category.

1.2 The site falls within the Douglas Ewart School. The existing school comprises “C block! to the north and the “A block”, the Merrick leisure centre, and kitcheddining hall as well as the surrounding school grounds.

1.3 The part of the site that represents the focus of the development lies between “A block” and “C block”. This area contains the existing drama building] the flat roofed middle section of C block, the covered walkway between “A block and C block’, and the playground.

“C block] comprises two storey and single storey wings with shallow pitched roofs, with a flat roofed single storey section joining the two in the centre.

“A block” is a three storey building with a shallow pitched roof.

1.4 The external finishes of both “A and C blocks” is “saphire” and “moonstone” panelled cladding and white render on the walls, facing brick basecourse, modern grey aluminium glazing, and grey vertical profile aluminium roof cladding.

1.5 Proposed to demolish single storey drama hall building] which has a footprint of some 1 65m2 and the covered walkway.

1.6 The central single storey section of “C block” is to be raised to two storey and incorporate a new shallow pitched roof.

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1.7 A two storey shallow pitched roof extension with a footprint of some 560m2 will project from the northern end of “A block’ and connect to the altered central section of “C block’. This will house a drama room, changing rooms and drama store, as well as a kitchen and dining hall area and an arts studio. A small section of the extension adjoining “A block will contain a lift and be three storeys.

1.8 The eastern part of the dining hall will project from the main extension. It will be located in the angle between eastern side of the extension and the existing “C block. It will have a modern appearance with a continuous curved external wall that will be fully glazed. Above the extension will be an “external art studio/social space” large balcony area.

1.9 The extension and altered “C block’ section will have a similar scale, external finishes, and glazing design as the existing “A & C blocks”.

2 CONSULTATIONS

2.1 Roads Services: No objection

2.2 SNH: No objection subject to conditions.

2.3 Scottish Water: No objection. Applicant to be made aware of comments.

2.4 Cree Valley Community Council: No objection.

3 REPORT

3.1 Relevant development plant policies:- SP: D36 (Design of Development); WLP: GPI (Development Principle); GP2 (Development Considerations); GP7 (Siting and Design) and GP75 (Safeguarding of Land for Community Facilities).

3.2 Drama facilities are to be retained and modernised as a result of the proposal, so community facility will be retained and developed.

3.3 The external finishes, scale and design of the proposed extension matches that of the existing “C & A blocks” adjoining and so is sympathetic to the school’s character. The additional second storey above the existing single storey section at the northern end of “C block” is also sympathetic in scale, finishes and design. This new shallow pitched roof represents an improvement on the existing flat roof.

3.4 The modern section of the extension containing the eastern part of the dining hall and open space social area above represents a visually attractive and contemporary element that provides a useful and unique amenity space.

3.5 In conclusion, advice to Members is that this is an appropriate development at this site and the proposal accords with policy. There are no material considerations that should override policy in this case. Under Section 25 of the Act, therefore, the application should be approved.

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4 RECOMMENDATION

4.1 Approve subject to the following conditions;

1. three years of the date of this permission.

That the development hereby granted planning permission shall be commenced within

2. That the development hereby granted planning permission shall be implemented in full accordance with the approved plans and the details specified on the application form unless otherwise agreed in writing by the planning authority.

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AP P E N D IX

LIST OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN POLICIES MATERIAL TO APPLICATION - 101P1110015

Policies may not be quoted in full. Omission of part of a policy means that that part is not material to the application before the Council.

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY STRUCTURE PLAN

Policy D36 : Design of Development The Council expects development proposals to take into account:-

1. siting, scale, form massing and layout in relation to townscape and landscape setting;

2. local building styles; and

3. the access needs of all groups.

Further policy guidance on the siting and design of development will be provided in Local Plans. The importance of design in development and the need to take into account matters such as siting and access to the development is recognised in a number of NPPG's and PAN'S indicating strong support for the consideration of these matters as an integrated part of the preparation of development proposals.

WIGTOWN LOCAL PLAN

General Policy 1 : Development Principle There will be a general presumption against development which would give rise to a material degree of land use conflict, which would materially detract from and / or be incompatible with the character or amenity of the locality.

General Policy 2 : Development Considerations As part of the assessment of development proposals, including those on sites identified in the Plan, developers will be required to satisfy the Planning Authority with regards to their proposals in terms of all of the following:-

a) and water supply;

access, ground conditions and stability, contamination, foul and surface water drainage

b) traffic generation onto the adjacent road network;

c) flooding; (see Policy 58 on Flood Risk and Development);

d) environmental impact.

When assessing planning applications, the Planning Authority will take into account the provisions of any site guidance, site specifications, or development brief as set out in Section 3 of the Plan. Where further information is required, the Planning Authority may apply the

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provisions of Article 13 of Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992 or Article 4(3) in respect of outline applications.

General Policy 7: Siting and Design The Council as Planning Authority will require development to:-

a) of the building, group of buildings or adjacent area of which it will form a part; and

have regard to the character and appearance, scale, density, massing and materials,

b) contribute to the quality of the local environment having regard to the Local Biodiversity Action Plan; and

retain and, where appropriate, enhance important physical or landscape features which

c) ridge lines or other visually sensitive sites; and

have no material adverse effect on the local landscape character, avoiding prominent

d) and

take into account the guidance and advice set out in the Landscape Assessment Study;

e) comply with the Design Guidance set out in Appendix 1; and

f) Prevention”; and

where appropriate, have regard to the principles of PAN 46 - “Planning for Crime

g) the development; and

have regard to the replacement of any trees which are unavoidably lost as a result of

h) orientation and layout of the site or buildings.

have regard to the need for energy conservation and efficiency in the design,

General Policy 75 : Safeguarding of Land for Community Facilities This site is safeguarded for the retention, development or improvement of community facilities. The development of this site for other purposes will only be permitted where:-

a) it is surplus to the needs of the local community; and

b) alternative provision of an equivalent community facility exists or is made available within the local area.

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