The Case for Viewforth

The following information about the two options may be useful in considering your response :

Facilities
The “vision” for the redeveloped school at Viewforth includes : floorspace up from 10,856m2 to a possible 14,376 m2 (an increase in space of nearly one third), with many large new classrooms added ; greatly increased onsite sports facilities, including a swimming pool and full size games hall; a culture of lunchtime food and socialising, encouraged within an extended playground; and improved social spaces within the school.

The Fairmilehead option, as shown on the questionnaire illustration, is the first time that such a detailed plan has been available. With a “footprint” of 5,000 m2, the new building is likely to be 3 storeys high. The site as shown includes space for car parking and two sports pitches. This would still mean some sports/PE classes using the school’s current playing fields at Meggetland.

When will Scottish Water move ?
The proposed site for the new school at Fairmilehead may now be at considerable risk. Prior to the ‘Credit Crunch’ Scottish Water were planning to develop new headquarters, allowing them to vacate Fairmilehead by 2011.
Today’s rapidly falling property values are reducing the value of Scottish Water’s Fairmilehead site. This is likely to have a major impact on Scottish Water’s plans and increases the uncertainty as to the site’s availability.

Timescale
We have estimated timescales for both options based on professional advice. Both options will have a significant lead-in time, as the Council has to employ a design team, draw up detailed plans, and go through planning and procurement procedures. This will take a minimum of three years. Depending on available funding, building work could then take place thereafter.

The Viewforth option would take longer in the construction phase, depending on decant options and the phasing of construction works. The Fairmilehead option will take longer in the pre-construction phase, as the Council will have to go through a land purchase procedure, clean up possible industrial contamination, and obtain formal permission for the change of use.

Overall it is easier to estimate how long the Viewforth option would take, as the Council already has ownership of the site. As the Council has not been successful in acquiring a suitable newbuild site to date, there is no benchmark against which to estimate how long the purchase of Fairmilehead might take to complete.

Site Acquisition
If the Council chooses the Fairmilehead option and then fails to secure the site, we will end up with no school at all, as was the case with the PPP2 round of school building. This is a very real risk. The lack of a site has been the reason why no new Boroughmuir has been built, despite proposals going back thirty years. In the recent past there have been suggestions that the school could be relocated to Fountainpark, Astley Ainsley or a greenfield site. None of these sites have proved deliverable for reasons of cost, location, or planning difficulties. Site acquisition is therefore an extremely important factor in choosing an option.

The Fairmilehead site, if it becomes available, will involve additional costs for the land (currently estimated at between £30 and £40m). Scottish Water are obliged to seek the best market price for the site if they sell. It is questionable whether the Council will be able to afford the site. This is particularly relevant given current budget constraints and capital planning restrictions.

Disruption/Decant
The redevelopment of the Viewforth site will inevitably cause some disruption to pupils, staff, and local residents, whilst the Fairmilehead option won’t affect staff and pupils, and will only disrupt local residents during the construction phase.

However the timescale for the redevelopment option is significantly reduced from the 4 years worst case scenario identified by the Council if part or all of the school is decanted. The Parent Council is pushing for this. In addition to the Darroch annex, there is the possibility of site sharing at James Gillespies. A complete decant would allow the building work at Viewforth to be completed within 18 months.

Sustainability
The Council briefing suggests that a new build site will be more sustainable. We would argue to the contrary, that the refurbishment of a solid Edwardian structure which is likely to remain the core of the school for another century, is more sustainable than a new build which, though it may contain new materials and fabrics, is on past track record likely to have a shelf-life of only a few decades..

Location
Both proposed sites are at the edges of the catchment area, so there will be inconvenience for those pupils who have to travel from one end of the catchment area to the other. Probably fewer pupils would be able to walk to school if it were located at Fairmilehead, than if it were at Viewforth. Similarly the nature of bus routes probably make it easier for pupils to get to Viewforth than to Fairmilehead (e.g. from Greenbank/Cluny). Fairmilehead lacks Bruntsfield’s commercial infrastructure eg sandwich shops and other food outlets.

Copies of the Council’s questionnaire can be downloaded here . It is also possible to re-turn the survey online at this site.

Summary :
Please respond to the survey. Action for Boroughmuir favour the Viewforth option – we believe it is the
only affordable, deliverable option.
Whichever option you prefer, please use the comments box to say how important a Boroughmuir that is
“fit for purpose” is.

Comments

[Alan Hughes]

Having worked for S&N during the tortuous discussions regarding the potential site for a new school at the former Fountain Brewery site, I would caution against the proposed new build at Fairmilehead. Although, a new build may appear attractive, the fact that Scottish Water is not even certain to vacate the site could mean that the viable refurbishment of the existing site, is delayed with the inevitable increase in costs.

[George Foulkes MSP]

Having heard the cases for both Viewforth and Fairmilehead, I support Viewforth as it is most likely to be achieved and is a better location. I'm also of the view - as I said at the meeting - that we all need to move the campaign up a gear - including holding another public meeting iwth all Councillors, MSP's and MP's invited.

- Please keep in touch with my office if you think i can be of any assistance.

Best wishes,

George

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