Edinburgh Council has approved a controversial new extension to a historic primary school in the city.
The City of Edinburgh Council granted permission to Sciennes Primary School on Monday February 14 to create the new two storey building.
It is believed that the building will allow the school to have at least four more classrooms.
However, there were objections from locals on the planning application, and the school’s PTA were furious last year when a temporary structure was put in place within the schools grounds.
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Sciennes Primary School is located to the south of The Meadows, in the heart of the residential area of Marchmont.
The school dates from 1889 with the main building, playground shelters, gatepiers and boundary walls being category B listed, and is located within the Marchmont, Meadows & Bruntsfield Conservation Area.
Edinburgh Live reported last year on parents at the school who were angry at temporary mobile classrooms, as they were taking up too much of the children’s playground and leaving them all crammed into play in one small space at intervals.
However, the planning application states that two old classrooms would be demolished to mitigate loss of space. Once the mobile classrooms are removed it is hoped that it will ease the problems of an overloaded playground at intervals.
Added to this, almost 20 locals in the upmarket Grange area objected on the planning application, complaining about intrusion into the conservation area and trees being removed.
One said: “As a longstanding member of Royal Horticultural Society I know that there are strict regulations regarding the felling of trees within Conservation areas.
“The mature Lime trees within the school grounds at the rear of 17 and 18 Livingstone Place provide wonderful shelter for a wide range of nesting birds and I understand that it is proposed that these will be felled in order to accommodate new classrooms.”
A report prepared by the council’s Development Sub Planning Committee recommended the application be granted and dismissed the concerns.
The report stated: “It will not be detrimental to the architectural character, setting or historical interest of listed buildings and will preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area.
“It will not result in unreasonable impacts on neighbours’ living environment. No specific road or pedestrian safety issues will occur.
“The scheme brings significant benefit through delivery of additional education facilities required by the school. On balance, this benefit outweighs loss of existing trees on-site. Mitigation will be provided through submission of a landscaping plan.”
