Exciting plans for new Ardnashee on old Foyle College site submitted

A design statement submitted to the DC&SDC planning department in support of a fresh EA application outlines its vision for a state-of-the-art new school on the Northland Road site.

The new Ardnashee School College will be a single storey building with two identifiable wings providing accommodation for nursery, primary, post primary and specialist subjects.

A multi-use games area (MUGA) pitch, soft play areas with specialist play equipment and a greenhouse form part of the ambitious plans with the potential to develop a 3G pitch in future.

Samuel Stevenson and Sons, the Belfast architectural practice leading the project, states, in its design statement: “The new build Ardnashee School and College will be a model for effective teaching and learning in a dynamic and exciting educational environment where pupils develop a love of learning and the skills they need for the future.

“Alongside the development of the intellect, value creativity, the ability to communicate, team work and leadership and the skills gained through participation, the school and college will strive to create opportunities, within and beyond the curriculum, to enable each pupil to develop their potential to the full -creating confident, independent, versatile and successful adults, equipped with the skills and values to meet the challenges of a changing society and to provide the best possible educational foundation in life.”

It is envisaged that the new school, which will cater for 340 pupils with profound, moderate and severe learning difficulties, will take around 30 months to build once planning permission is granted.

Derry City & Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee will consider the application in the months ahead.