UNANIMOUS approval has been given for a new £56.6m high school in the Borders which is deemed “absolutely essential for the future of education" in the town.
Members of Scottish Borders Council’s planning and building standards committee rubber-stamped the phased demolition of the current high school on Buccleuch Road in Hawick.
This includes the removal of the existing Henderson Road building along with the post-war and 1960s extension.
Also approved was the development of a new four-storey high school positioned to the western side of the site.
Objections from third parties had been received across both applications.
They centred on opposition to demolition of the main stone buildings on site, the central and Henderson Road buildings, amid concern that the “loss of these structures adversely affects the conservation area”.
Representation from the town’s community council also centred on the scale and orientation of the plans being “are out of character on entering Hawick from the south”, with members urging “retention of some historic fabric”.
As a result the applicant, Scottish Borders Council, and its agent, Stallan Brand, have now agreed to reconsider the proposed demolition of the central building.
Councillor Jane Cox, Conservative for Hawick & Hermitage, said: “Obviously Hawick has needed a new high school for quite a long time and I’m so pleased these plans have finally come forward.
“I think it is going to look absolutely fantastic and it’s just what Hawick has needed and the fact that some of the old school is being retained I approve of that as well.”
Councillor Neil Richards, Conservative for Hawick & Denholm, was supportive too, although he questioned retaining older parts of the building, saying: “My kids went there and I don’t think it has anything great to recommend it. Apart from that I support it.”
Councillor Aileen Orr, SNP for East Berwickshire, added: “I’m sorry about losing the Henderson Building because I have some affection for that. I have seen the effect that Eyemouth’s new school has had on pupils and staff, it’s uplifting.”
Committee chair councillor Marshall Douglas said: “We can safely say we are unanimous on this. It is absolutely essential for the future of education in Hawick.”
In his report recommending approval for the plans, SBC planning officer Scott Shearer, cited a number of conditions, including that no demolition shall commence until a Construction Environmental Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority.
Shearer stated: “The proposed development represents a significant investment in the improvement of education facilities for the benefit for Hawick and its surrounding catchment.
“Despite the established use of the site, the development occupies a sensitive location within the Hawick Conservation Area and to enable the construction of new education infrastructure, demolition of some historic buildings is required, including the Henderson Building.
“The Henderson Building is considered to make a valued contribution to the conservation area but its retention would severely restrict the ability to redevelop the site.
“The applicants have now revised the proposals to remove the central building from the demolition proposals and will now undertake an exercise to properly establish whether this structure can be retained and re-purposed.
“It is positive that the central building is removed from the demolition proposals – allowing for a separate exercise to be undertaken to establish if its retention and re-purpose is viable.”
