Major school extension plan hits minor snag

A multi-million euro extension planned for Breifne College in Cavan Town has hit a procedural setback, after the planning application was deemed invalid by council planners.

The proposal, submitted by Cavan & Monaghan Education and Training Board earlier this month, did not include necessary mapping of adjoining lands, owned by the applicant or others.

The development planned for the Cootehill Road school included the partial demolition of the original 1974 single-storey building, to make way for a substantial new L-shaped extension rising to three storeys.

The ambitious new build will link to the existing 2018 three-storey extension via a first-floor bridge, and provide a mix of general and specialist classrooms, pastoral spaces, and student support facilities.

The planned project also proposes a range of other site improvements including new parking spaces, bicycle storage, a landscaped courtyard, and a new entrance with ramp and steps.

PV panels will be installed on the roof of the two-storey section, and internal refurbishment is planned to accommodate an expanded Special Educational Needs (SEN) facility.

As part of the revised layout, existing Technology and Multimedia rooms will be converted to allow for the expansion of the current SEN unit from two to four classrooms, with a new secure soft play area and sensory garden located nearby. These works will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption to the school’s operation.

The school’s temporary modular building will also to be upgraded, with new cladding, a small entrance canopy, and landscaping improvements.

The application must now be revised and resubmitted to comply with statutory planning requirements.