Callander Community Campus
Stirling Council are proposing to build a new Callander Primary School to replace the existing facilities within the town. The new site for the development is adjacent to the existing McLaren High School and McLaren Leisure Centre, creating a new Callander Community Campus.
Prior to submitting a formal planning application, we want to provide the community with an opportunity to contribute their views on the proposals to help improve the quality of our submission.
The initial information will outline our engagement process to date and how the current site location and brief have been established, with information on the building form and site layout to follow in the coming weeks.
Phases
Feedback
Callander Community Campus Consultation Feedback
Stirling Council thank you for your feedback for the proposed Callander Community Campus. We have attached our comments on the highlighted key points below.
Construction impact on the All-Weather Pitch
The existing all-weather pitch surface was installed in 2013, so is nearing the end of its 10 year design life. The community campus project brings with it the opportunity to refurbish this pitch, extend its design life and relocate it to a new final location.
As it is changing location, this allows some of the existing pitch to be kept in use while the new pitch is constructed to minimise disruption and inconvenience. Stirling Council is working with their main contractor to develop a comprehensive construction-stage plan which minimises the period of time when a full sized all-weather pitch is unavailable. This keeps half of the existing pitch in use until the new full pitch is complete, for a period of approximately six months. Once the construction-stage plan is complete, it is proposed to share this with all affected parties.
Additionally, Stirling Council hopes to upgrade the pitch provision at the existing primary school to provide outdoor sports facilities for the community during the construction works and beyond. The intention is to support this usage by refurbishing the modular unit at the existing Primary School to convert it into community changing facilities.
Please review the attached plans for more information.
Safe routes to school and pedestrian site access
A new pedestrian route is being created along the northern boundary to provide a safer route to both the new primary school, the existing high school and the nursery.
The proposed riverside walkway and pedestrian bridge are part of the South Callander Masterplan Framework and are not within the scope of the Community Campus project.
Stirling Council acknowledges the importance of these works for the Community Campus project though and has approved funding to undertake the design development stage of those works with a separate design team. Regular liaison meetings have been arranged to ensure both projects are aligned.
The Community Campus site plan proposes a variety of access options in order to avoid congested traffic, while also creating opportunities to tie in with the riverside walkway once it has been constructed.
Classroom numbers
The new primary school is being designed to accommodate 317 pupils.
This number is based on Stirling Council’s 10 year roll projections of pupil numbers, the existing primary school population and catchment area, and proposed new housing developments at Claish Farm and Churchfields.
Modelling and analysis of that number indicates that the number of classrooms required is 10.
To deliver the agreed project outcomes which include a teaching environment that is suitable for twenty-first century learning, to ensure best value for money from the construction works, and to allow for some contingency, the proposed new primary school will provide 11 flexible teaching spaces, as well as a variety of breakout, social, dining and play areas.
In addition, the development is designed to permit a future extension of two further flexible teaching spaces if needed, which futureproofs the school beyond the 10 year roll projection.