8/4/2021

Published Barrhead News On Line -

News
20 mins ago

Neilston: BDP win £30 million joint campus contract

By Gillian McPherson Reporter

A DESIGN by the firm behind the radical transformation of Glasgow’s Queen Street train station has been approved for a new school and community campus in Neilston.

East Renfrewshire Council has awarded leading architects BDP’s Glasgow studio the contract for the £30million hub, which aims to meet growing demand for school places in the village due to an increase in the number of homes being built.

It is phase one of a long-term strategy for the regeneration of the village and will bring Neilston Primary and St Thomas’ Primary together on one site.

Both schools will, however, have separate headteachers and parent-teacher councils.

The Madras Family Centre, a community library and sports facilities will also be located on the campus, which is to be built on the site of the existing Neilston Primary.

Lindsey Mitchell, architect director at BDP, told the Barrhead News: “It is great to continue our long-standing relationship with East Renfrewshire Council, having recently completed the award-winning Maidenhill Primary School and Nursery [in Newton Mearns].

“This fantastic new campus will offer a great opportunity to create a real community hub for the Neilston village and early feedback from residents has been extremely positive.

“This will be a state-of-the-art education and community facility that will not only provide amenities to meet 21st-century learning but also adopt sustainable design principles.”
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Construction is set to begin at the end of this year and should be completed by the summer of 2023.

East Renfrewshire Council has already carried out an in principle consultation with the Neilston community and the Catholic Church over the plans, first announced last March.

Both existing primaries are expected to be demolished once the new campus is ready for entry.

Plans are also in place to build a new swimming pool on the current St Thomas’ Primary site in Broadlie Road.

Councillor Paul O’Kane, East Renfrewshire’s education and equalities convener, said: “It’s extremely exciting for Neilston and will give our residents modern, fit-for-purpose facilities in the village and we will continue to work closely with the community as plans progress.”

14/5/2021

Published Barrhead News on-line -

News

13th May

Neilston: Shared campus plans start to take shape

By William Brown Reporter

Residents are being invited to help shape plans for a new learning campus in Neilston.

The proposals will see Neilston Primary, St Thomas’ Primary and Madras Family Centre being brought together on one site.

Landscaping, outside sports facilities and car parking will also be included at the new hub, to be built at the rear of the current Neilston Primary and Madras Family Centre.

An interactive web portal showing the initial design concepts will be available online from today until May 26, allowing residents to submit their views.

A live presentation will also be held online at 5pm on May 19 to allow the project team to outline its vision and answer any questions from residents.

This event can be accessed at

www.bdp.com/neilstonlearningcampus.

Councillor Paul O’Kane, East Renfrewshire’s education and equalities convener, said: “I’m delighted to see this project move forward to this first part of the planning process.

“We are committed to providing the very best facilities for all our young people, as we know that quality learning environments can have an extremely positive impact.”

Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the campus scheduled to open in August 2023.

Each school will continue to have its own headteacher.

2/7/2021

Published Barrhead News On Line -

News

1st July

Neilston: Planning application for new shared campus

By Gillian McPherson Reporter

A PLANNING application has been submitted for the construction of an ambitious learning campus in Neilston.

The proposals will see Neilston Primary School, janitor house and Madras Family Centre being demolished and the construction of a new shared campus.

This will bring together Neilston Primary, St Thomas’ Primary and Madras Family Centre on the existing Neilston Primary site.

Each school will continue to have its own headteacher.

Plans for landscaping, access roads, parking, sports facilities with
floodlighting and works to Kirkstyle Lane are also outlined in the proposals.

Specifically the landscaping and sports facilities plans include a seven-a-side all weather pitch, a hard games court, a “nature contemplation garden”, an “orchard”, a “witchy hill”, an “outdoor makers space” and a dining terrace.

The proposals also seek to repurpose an existing church hall adjacent to the site as a community library facility.

This is described on the plans as “provisional community library provision under discussion”.

Leading architects BDP’s Glasgow Studio were awarded the contract to design the hub by East Renfrewshire Council earlier this year.

The firm, who are behind the radical transformation of Glasgow’s Queen Street train station, have submitted the application on behalf of the local authority.

An interactive web portal showing the initial design concepts was available online in May, which allowed residents to submit their views and help shape the plans.

A live presentation was also held online to allow the project team to outline its vision and answer any questions from residents.

Those wishing to make formal representations on the planning application have until July 13.