A new primary school is to be built in an Aberdeen community after councillors unanimously approved plans yesterday.
Proposals for a replacement building for Riverbank School were given the green light by the council’s planning committee.
The new school, earmarked for the site of the former Tillydrone Infant School and St Machar Primary School, could open in 2022.
Riverbank School was established in 2008 when St Machar and Donbank primaries were merged, limiting the combined school to a roll of around 380 pupils and 80 nursery places.
The council’s new purpose-built facility planned for Coningham Gardens will have room for 650 school-age children and another 100 in its nursery.
The proposals also include a multi-use 3G sports pitch, an outdoor classroom and dining area and a sensory garden.
Planning committee convener Marie Boulton hoped the school would bring a new type of learning to Tillydrone.
She told fellow members: “Looking at the application, the additional environmental improvement and the outdoor classroom, I think this school will bring about a wider type of learning.”
Liberal Democrat education spokesman martin Greig, who also sits on the committee, said: “I am pleased to see that the school has been carefully designed to include space that set aside for outdoor learning.
“We need to recognise that use of open spaces is an important aspect in the education of young people and there should be more of these kinds of opportunities for all pupils.
“It is good that this school is moving forward with outdoor classroom experiences and wherever possible, other schools should be adapted to offer contact with the natural environment in the curriculum.”
A number of conditions were attached to the planning permission granted yesterday, including limiting the use of the sports pitch could to between 9am-8pm in an effort to limit noise for nearby residents.
