New school plans for ACC approved by town council

A long-awaited new school for Athlone Community College has moved one step closer, after ambitious proposals for a new building to cater for 1,000 pupils jumped the first planning hurdle gaining outline permission from Athlone Town Council. The verdict had been delayed from October after the local authority sought further information on several aspects of the multi-million euro project, including the planned location of the new school building and link road proposals, which it judged "unacceptable" at that juncture. However, this week the revised plans submitted at the end of last month passed the test as the local authority said it considered that the proposed development is in accordance with the Athlone Town Development Plan 2008 subject to compliance with 11 planning conditions. Revised plans will see a changed site layout providing increasing frontage and a stronger presence facing north/south of the proposed road on the adjacent site. Ball courts would also be relocated from the proposed road, the revised plans documented. Furthermore, a link road planned for within the school complex has been The location and design of the school, ball courts and parking areas shall be submitted by way of a further application for full planning permission. "The location and design of the school shall provide for dual active front elevations to the west and south and address the future North South Route as indicated in the South Lissywollen LAP 2009," the council stated. The Department of Education still hope the new school should be ready for occupation by the start of the school year in September 2012. Under the plans, the existing secondary school on Retreat Road will be demolished and replaced by a modern school facility of 8,400 square metres on the 5.03 hectare site. The two/three storey building is set to boast 23 general classrooms and 39 specialised teaching rooms, a new sports hall, pastoral rooms, staff rooms and pastoral rooms. Two playing pitches, five hard play areas and a car park with 85 spaces would be also be provided. The long-awaited Athlone school project is one of six in a new Public Private Partnership (PPP) process announced by Minister Batt O'Keeffe last December. omitted in the new proposals. In the council ruling, the planning conditions point out that the grant of outline permission is only for the principle of development of a school and associated facilities on site. This grant shall not be construed as acceptance of any particular layout, heights of structures or other particulars submitted.