Plans for Black Isle school's proposed nursery extension lodged with Highland Council; Avoch Primary School will be the site of the extension, if approved
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A BLACK Isle school could have a new nursery extension if planners give the scheme the green light.
Highland Council has applied for permission to build the extension at Avoch Primary School and it is currently under consideration by council planning officers.
According to a design statement, which was submitted in support of the application, it is intended to extend the existing school to form nursery classroom accommodation.
The proposed single storey extension will have direct access from classrooms to the external play areas and it will have a flat roof just like the adjoining primary school.
The statement added: “The extension will be served by a central kitchen and include servery, staffroom, office/reception, cloaks and toilet accommodation. It is intended that the adjacent existing toilets and cloak area will be refurbished as part of the works.”
It will cover an area of 1650 square metres and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has no objection to the scheme.
The proposed site is within the boundary of the primary school.
According to the design statement it is surrounded by Old Mill Road, community pitches and a community centre to the north, industrial buildings and residential properties to the east, the A832 road to the south and woodland to the west.
It was originally intended that the nursery should be a separate building before it was discovered there were limited viable areas for development.
The design statement said: “Site constraints have dictated the position of the proposed extension. The proposed extension has been designed with direct access to and natural daylighting from external play areas from the classrooms.
“A canopy has been added to allow for outdoor play in the event of wet weather. A reception and staff room have been positioned to the public side of the building where visitors and children will arrive.
“It is intended that most of the site will be grass to allow the children to run around while playing. The area below the larger external canopy will be hard landscaped due to heavy footfall.
“Nursery play items as required by the Care Commission will be specified by the council at a later date."
