Breifne College expansion appealed

A formal appeal has been lodged against a sweeping expansion plan of school facilities at Cavan Town’s Breifne College.

What was set to become the most significant redevelopment of the Cootehill Road school since its original construction in 1974 has now been thrust into uncertainty.

The proposal had been green-lighted by planners at Cavan County Council despite local concerns over the size of development, traffic management, and potential impact on neighbouring properties.

Backed by the Cavan & Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB), the ambitious proposal would see part of the original single-storey school demolished to make way for a striking new mix of two- and three-storey extensions.

The new L-shaped extension will accommodate four general classrooms, three science laboratories with prep areas, two engineering rooms with storage, three technology rooms, an art room, a graphics lab, a textiles room, a home economics room, seven pastoral care rooms, a general-purpose room, a servery, and two refurbished SEN classrooms.

Other proposed amenities included a soft play area and sensory garden for students with special educational needs, PV solar panels, 38 carparking spaces, 30 bicycle parking spaces, and a new paved courtyard social space, complemented by extensive landscaping.

The development initially drew just one formal objection. Now Rory Hayden has escalated the issue to An Coimisiún Pleanála, lodging his appeal late last month, March 26.

Mr Hayden had criticised the height of the new structure, which will peak at 16 metres and overlook the main R188 Cavan-to-Cootehill road, calling it “a gigantic eyesore dominating the skyline” on the outskirts of the town. He also claimed the council’s traffic assessments underestimated congestion, arguing that cars “constantly” park in their gateway and the neighbouring entrance, blocking traffic flow.

Breifne College has steadily grown through decades of extensions- from additional classrooms in the 1970s to major upgrades in recent years.

With student numbers currently around 850, the expansion would allow enrolment to surpass 1,000.