£8.6million primary school plan set to be approved

A NEW £8.6 million primary school in Efford is expected to be granted planning permission next week.

Pupils and teachers have worked with architects to help design the state-of-the-art school to replace the outdated Highfield and Plym View schools.

The new school, called High View Primary, will be built on the site of Highfield Primary on Torridge Way.

Council planning officers are recommending that councillors on the planning committee grant conditional permission for the application when they meet next Thursday.

Marc Nash, director of Architects Design Group (ADG) who have designed High View, said: "We have ironed out a few issues with the planners so it's looking good. We're at a detailed phase of design and it's going to programme.

"As soon as the schools break up we will be in there with the bulldozers."

The plan is for pupils from Highfield Primary to move to Plym View for a year while the school is built. Then they will all move to the new 315-pupil school, with a 36-place nursery, which is due to open in September 2010.

High View is one of a number of schools projects that have escaped a £53million cut in Plymouth City Council's budget as a result of the economic downturn.

The building will have state-of-the-art classrooms, a performing arts hall, a studio which has changing rooms for community use, meeting rooms and a media suite where youngsters can make films and animation.

The new school is part of a huge redevelopment of central Efford, including a new library and church.

Head designate Kim Dorian-Kemp, now head of Highfield, said the design was the culmination of a lot of talking between architects and teachers, parents and children and groups such as the Heart of Efford Community Partnership.

"It is a very exciting design and it is what the community deserves," she said.

Some children formed a 'design pod' and have been working with senior architect Jez Lavers.

Mrs Dorian-Kemp said: "They have been looking at the plans and letting him know all their dreams and aspirations for the school."

They have also been working with an artist in residence through Creative Partnerships on the colour scheme and decorating outside play areas.

Mr Lavers, of ADG, said: "High View Primary School is all about creating a new hub that can be a real focal point for local people offering enhanced school and community facilities."

The planned 2,550 square metre building will be oriented to make the most of the sun's energy and light, whilst avoiding overheating and sheltering the external play areas.

It will also combine good insulation and thermal mass which, combined with the other environmental technologies and design processes incorporated, will help to reduce its energy needs.

The building will primarily be naturally ventilated and incorporate a ground source heat pump for part of its heating needs.

Rainwater harvesting is also included, which works in tandem with a sustainable urban drainage system to minimise off-site flooding risk.

The Planning Committee has received no representations against the scheme.