DPP tendered for planning consultancy services and was successfully appointed by the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) in June 2007. The project involves the disposal of a surplus school property in Drumahoe, Londonderry.

Existing proposals for the 2.44 hectare site include housing, apartments, a community hall and educational resource, changing facilities, a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA pitch) and car parking for an adjacent primary school.

The site is occupied by a listed former school building so any redevelopment must consider the potential impact on its character and setting. The site is also zoned as Existing Recreation and Open Space in the Local Plan, a strong justification is therefore required to overcome tests set out in Planning Policy Statement 8 (PPS8) Open Space. This together with substantial tree coverage along one boundary adds to the complex planning issues for this site.

Services Provided
• advised the design team on the general planning strategy for obtaining planning consent, the various approvals required and identified the relevant opportunities and physical/policy constraints associated with the site;
• significant input into the design and layout of the scheme and led and advised the team in incorporating design features required to meet elements identified by the Government’s historic buildings advisors following a number of meetings with senior officials.
• successfully engaged with the Drumahoe Residents’ Association in respect of the site’s redevelopment.

Achievements
DPP has been working successfully with the multi-discipline team, including architects, a historic buildings specialist, traffic consultant, arboriculturalist and ecologist, in bringing forward a comprehensive design proposal for the school site.

Following the significant engagement in the project the association moved from a position of wide-spread concern and objection to one of broad community support. It ultimately resulted in the association’s spokesperson making positive representations to the planning service in support of the application.