The Scottish Government

Name

Harry McCall

Job title

Vice Chair & Planning Officer

Organisation

Grange-Howard Community Council

Address

47 Beech Avenue, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, KA1 2EN

Telephone

01563 522016

Fax

01563 522016 (phone first for connection)

Email

harrymccall@hotmail.com

1 East Ayrshire Council Planning Department

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Development Plans Development Management Development on the Ground Community Involvement

Title of entry

Grange School Campus Development, Kilmarnock

Professional knowledge Innovation Management Sustainable development

Partnership Community interest Regeneration Customer satisfaction

This application relates to the role of The Grange-Howard Community Council ( GHCC) in a project that comprises the planning, design and construction of the Grange schools campus in Kilmarnock. The campus will accommodate the new Grange Academy, Annanhill Primary and Park School buildings together with new community facilities. It will be located on the 20 hectare site, owned by East Ayrshire Council and occupied by the present Academy and Primary buildings.

The capital cost, excluding land, amounts to £30 million. The building contract, which has just begun, envisages the occupation of the new campus, by the schools, in August 2008. Demolition of the existing buildings is programmed to be completed 9 months later.

The Academy and Annanhill Primary are 40 years old and in poor condition. Park School is much older. Structural failures are evident in the Academy and the present facilities that the schools can offer are dated. The need for replacement and modern buildings is evident

The catchments of the campus schools will provide a pupil and staff population of around 1600 with more than half transported to the site. There are substantial problems with site access obtained from narrow housing estate roads that lead from Irvine Road, which itself is subject to heavy traffic demands. Car parking at present is non existent.

Containable but sizeable geophysical problems will require to be dealt with and there is a history of behavioural problems that needs to be addressed partly by the campus design.

The aims of the project are to provide first class modern schools that will facilitate the delivery of the best education that can be obtained for the children and adolescents of the area. The reasons for the active role of the Community Council are:

1. To represent the interests of the community and of the residents in the area whose environment will be substantially and permanently affected by the project and its outcome.

2. To make effective representations to the local authority and to the consortium, involved in the design, financing, ownership and management of the assets in respect of their use for school purposes and other uses outwith these hours.

In December 2003 the public was first informed about the proposals. Vehement opposition was expressed by the residents. In January 2004 the Community Council opened dialogue with the Council and with the PPP and sought to exercise constructive influence. In April 2004 the Community Council submitted a memorandum containing 30 design points that subsequently were included in the design brief. Later in 2004 the Council invited competitive bids for the design and building of the Campus. In October 2005 First Class Consortium were appointed Preferred Bidders. Planning consent was given in April 2006 that contained conditions advocated by the Community Council and the contract was awarded. Works commenced in August 2006.

While it does not have executive functions or powers Grange-Howard Community Council ( GHCC) is a statutory consultee. The Local Authority referred the Grange campus planning application to it and GHCC has attempted, with some success, to play an active and constructive role from a wholly non-party political standpoint.

Reference has been made already to GHCC influence in matters of planning and design of the campus. Now that the construction stage has been reached two of its number attend monthly meetings of a liaison committee that has been set up in terms of the conditions of planning consent. Other members include representatives of the Architects, the Contractors, the PPP, East Ayrshire Council Planning Committee and the Schools

The roles of the key players are:

1 East Ayrshire Council Planning Department ( EAC) has kept GHCC fully informed. It has ensured that the views of the Community Council and others have been sought in all of the related planning applications and the conditions that have been applied to consents have been adequate and seem to be reasonable from the perspectives of all of the parties concerned.

2 The PPP Unit was established to further the four schools projects in East Ayrshire by providing means of liaison, communication and co-ordination between EAC and First Class Schools (a consortium comprising Hochtieff and Norddeutsche Landesbank of Germany) and their architects and contractors. Facilities Management will manage the assets until transfer to EAC in 30 years time.

3 The Grange Howard Community Council whose functions and role have been explained.

The Grange-Howard Community Council:

1. Has achieved acceptance of the project by the residents of Grange Estate.

2. Has secured good working relationships with and the ready co-operation of all of the organisations and Departments concerned with the project.

3. Put forward 30 points for consideration in the design of the campus all of which, with one exception, seem to have been reflected in the design to the advantage of the local community.

Has found the early days of implementation to have produced very few problems to the residents and relationships and attitudes seem reflective of the co-operation shown by all. GHCC has been given two places on the committee of 9 established to produce successful monthly liaison.

Perhaps the role of Grange-Howard Community Council may deserve an award given:

1 The dedication and skill it has shown in its task of representing Community interests in the matters relevant to the planning and building of the campus.

2 The contribution it has made to the planning and design considerations of the campus, including those required by temporary and off site works.

3 Its willingness to continue in constructive liaison and dialogue with the Local Authority and the representatives and agents of the consortium in the ensuing construction stage.

21 September 2006