Plans have been lodged for a major expansion and refurbishment of an Inverness primary school to ease “ridiculous” pressure that critics claim is being caused by new housing.
The £4million project at Smithton Primary will create 13 new classrooms and two general purpose rooms, as well as a multi-use games area (Muga) and parking spaces.
The application for the work was lodged this week amid an ongoing row over the impact of housing developments on overflowing city schools.
Temporary classrooms are being installed at five Inverness primaries – including Smithton – because of roll pressures, while there are early plans to build a new Gaelic school at Inverness Royal Academy.
Hundreds of new houses are being built in the Smithton and Culloden area, including at the £500million Stratton development.
A design statement lodged with the application states: “Proposed are 13 new full size classrooms with two general purpose rooms and associated ancillary space essential to the running of the school.
“The proposed development is intended to help meet the projected changes in the school roll and improve the teaching accommodation to suit minimum classroom sizes.
“The existing grassed playing field drainage will be improved and, when in use, complemented by the inclusion of an external Muga and in addition to an existing, soft landscaped, external teaching area, provided to help meet the needs of the outdoor teaching curriculum.”
Local councillor Glynis Campbell-Sinclair said: “It is totally and utterly needed. Even for the children that are there just now. I think it will be great once it’s complete.
“I know they are going to have temporary units in there. It’s the same old story with primary schools in the Highlands.
“They build all these houses and there’s no consideration to the impact on schools. It’s just ridiculous.
“There are plans to build a new primary school as part of Stratton and a new secondary school, but goodness knows how long down the line that is going to be.
“It’s an acute situation here but it’s not only in my ward. I’m delighted we’re getting the extension but it’s something that the council needs to look at.”
