Proposals have been submitted for an extension to a new £9million state-of-the-art Moira primary school building that aims to help address the “urgent shortfall in Special Educational Needs places”.
The plans – submitted to Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council by the school’s Trustees of the Board of Governors – relate to Rowandale Integrated Primary School on the Clarehill Road, Moira.
It seeks to further extend the new 14 classroom primary school building which the staff and pupils moved into upon completion of Phase 1 of the build in the Spring of 2025.
If approved, the new application could see a further two classrooms constructed for “special provision social communication (SPSC) / special educational needs unit” with ancillary spaces, external hard play provision and all ancillary and associated site works.
Providing rationale for the proposed project, a Design and Access Statement, prepared by Hamilton Architects, explains that “since commencement of works for Rowandale Integrated Primary and further to a Provincewide call from DE to any schools in planning / construction to address the urgent shortfall in Special Educational Needs places, the Board of Governors of Rowandale IPS have agreed, subject to approval, to extend their current 14 classroom facility to include a two classroom Special Provision Social Communication (SPSC) unit with associated ancillary spaces”.
The proposed site is located on the approved site of the Rowandale Integrated Primary School building, which is currently under construction for Phase 2 of the project.
The SPSC unit is proposed to be built as an extension to the south wing of the school and a feasibility study was undertaken in order to establish the most appropriate site for the new development.
The Design and Access statement explains that the area to the rear of the school was ruled out for the SPSC proposal for reasons of “accessibility and the detrimental effect it would have on the main grass play area”. It was also determined that the “scale” of the facility was “too great” for that location.
Instead, it has been proposed to extend the main school building to the south at the P1 entrance to create the new integrated SPSC unit and a reconfiguration of the P1 cloakroom will be required to allow access. The statement explains that it is Department of Education policy that SPSC provision is “integral to the mainstream school and not totally segregated”.
It continues: “The proposed design follows a desire and requirement to avoid past failures in local educational design by ensuring a high degree of sustainability, future proofing and integration of key client requirements to deliver a contemporary building which will have a long-life cycle, low building maintenance requirements and continue to support and provide education for the local community over the next few decades.”
The new unit – if approved – would comprise two classrooms, sensory rooms, support rooms, a multi-purpose room, play area, staff room, office, parent/carer room, kitchenette, WC facilities, hygiene room, services and appropriate storage.
The space would also benefit from a view of the play areas to “promote surveillance” and the SPSC’s proposed main play area would be an extension of the current school play area.
The statement adds that the design for the new classroom has been “underpinned” by five “overarching principles”, including inclusivity, accessibility, adaptability, sustainability and good value.
The application is due to be advertised shortly.
