SWINTON: school demolition gets go-ahead

Councillors have approved plans for the demolition and rebuilding of Swinton’s Queen Street School but insisted that a stone inscribed with the foundation date of 1908 be incorporated into the new building.

They also ordered that stone walls bordering the school grounds be maintained as part of the development, which will see the old stone school knocked down and replaced with one based on a semi-circular modern design.

The curved design of the proposed new school follows a recent trend which saw nearby Wath Comprehensive rebuilt in a curved shape and the circular design used to combine Herringthorpe Junior School with the neighbouring Infant School.

Planning officers said that the existing school buildings would “regrettably” be demolished.

“While they have been in situ for a considerable length of time and are of some architectural merit, the Conservation Officer has confirmed that they do not meet the criteria to be listed,” the report said.

“It is considered, therefore, that the demolition of the existing buildings, while somewhat regrettable, would not constitute material planning grounds for refusal of this application.

“The design of the replacement school which incorporates the new school into a single C-shaped building is considered to be of a good quality modern design which will have a satisfactory visual appearance when viewed from the surroundings and from the street scene.

“A replacement playing pitch has been created at the front of the site on the

footprint of the existing building and this, along with the reduced car parking, will increase the amount of greenery available and bring some relief to the surrounding predominantly built-up urban area.

“This is considered to benefit the overall street scene and provides mitigation for the loss of the existing school buildings.”