Private school’s sports hall refused planning permission

An Edinburgh private school’s huge new sports hall has been refused planning permission over concerns it would be an “over-dominant addition” to the rural landscape.

Clifton Hall School’s plans were dealt a blow after the council ruled the proposed gym block was not a “high quality design” and would be built using “inappropriate materials”.
Planners also said the construction could disturb archaeological remains dating back to the middle ages.
Plans lodged by the £4,760-a-term independent school near Newbridge, which boasts a tennis court, swimming pool and a rugby pitch, described the proposed newest extra curricular building as “an indoor sporting facility”, and state that “the building footprint is 648m²’ by six metres high.
However they failed to get approval as planning permission was refused on Monday (April 3).
Clad with metal sheeting, the council said the warehouse-like structure proposed to be erected beside the school’s artificial football field would be “relatively industrial in design”.
In a scathing assessment, planners said it would be “an inappropriate scale and design and would detract from the landscape quality and rural character of the area”.
They added: “The proposal is unacceptable in terms of its height and form, scale and proportions, position on the site and materials and detailing.
“The proposal is of a poor quality and inappropriate design and would have a negative impact on its surroundings and the character of the wider landscape.”
Furthermore they said if permission was granted a “programme of archaeological mitigation” would need to be undertaken as the site is “regarded as being of archaeological potential”.
They said: “Construction of the new structure could disturb archaeological remains dating back to the medieval period associated with the development of Cliftonhall House and Estate.”
The applicant has until July 3 to appeal the decision.

by Donald Turvill Local Democracy Reporter

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.