July 4 2019

East Dunbartonshire Council has given its consent to the demolition of the former Lairdsland Primary in Kirkintilloch’s conservation area, in order to erect 38 flats following the relocation of pupils to a new build school.

Drawings submitted by Coltart Earley Architecture on behalf of the local authority call for the unlisted school to be allocated for new build affordable housing after an alternative route of refurbishing the school was dismissed on cost grounds.

Explaining the decision to demolish and rebuild rather than refurbish in planning documents the practice wrote: “The report summary noted that following completion of a viability assessment that, in order to retain the existing building for the purposes of refurbishment with accompanying new build as affordable housing, there would be a significant shortfall in the Housing Revenue account beyond that normally considered feasible for a social housing development.”

Turning to the new build element in their design statement the practice added: “The building facades step to articulate the building form in both  the storey height and elevation, with external feature corners expressed in new ashlar sandstone.

“The retention and the reuse of stonework and features from the original building in framing two main entrances from Kerr Street, the reuse of the original stonework combined with retained areas forming boundary walls and reuse of stone gate piers, cast iron columns and original date stones within the landscaped feature courtyard references and acknowledges the conservation area.”

In addition to stone, the new homes will sport stepped facades finished in variegated buff brick under a reconstituted slate roof with zinc-clad stairwells.

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Local Boy on 5 Jul 2019 at 13:45 PM

Yet another piece of history with a place in the hearts of generations of local residents to be destroyed and replaced with housing completely alien to the so-called Conservation Area because there would be "a significant shortfall in the Housing Revenue account beyond that normally considered feasible for a social housing development". It is hard to believe that this building although not listed, cannot be saved for some useful purpose - even private sector with revenue used for housing on an alternative site ?

Like the earlier proposal to demolish the Town Hall this proposal should be resisted to halt the further erosion of the character of the town which has suffered so badly over the years - surely central to the purpose of any Conservation Area.

#2 Posted by Walt Disney on 8 Jul 2019 at 12:12 PM

#1 If the cooncil can't get it to work, there is no chance of the private sector (who need to make a profit - not a loss) getting it to work. If the council were to save it for a 'useful purpose' then they would have to fund it. Can't seem to remember EDC having an abundance of spare cash to spend on non listed buildings.

#3 Posted by A Local Pleb on 8 Jul 2019 at 12:42 PM

Perhaps if the costs negate its reuse for social housing then it should be adapted for the private sector? Up the road another old EDC school in Lenzie was put in for planning - https://www.holmesmiller.com/blog/2018/5/29/planning-submitted-for-old-lenzie-primary-school

#4 Posted by Walt Disney on 8 Jul 2019 at 13:16 PM

#3 Average sales price for flats in Lenzie is £240/sqft. Average in Kirky is £168/sqft.

That's why it works in Lenzie.

Post your comments