£1m price drop fails to tempt Fife Council to opt for new Madras College at Pipeland Farm
Fife Council has dismissed Muir Group's latest bid to build a new Madras College on a swathe of greenbelt land.
- Published in the Courier : 07.12.11
- Published online : 07.12.11 @ 06.10pm
Muir Group attempted to dangle a carrot in front of the local authority by dropping the cost of 22 acres at Pipeland Farm in St Andrews from £3 million to £2 million.
However, the council, which has already decided to rebuild the existing school at Kilrymont, said the Muir Group plans would push back the August 2015 opening date, face planning obstacles and could not be delivered within budget.
It is understood there are also fears the Pipeland proposal would set a precedent for development in the countryside and the school could be used to bulldoze through housing developments.
Muir Group revealed its proposal for a new single campus Madras College at Pipeland just days before the education and children's services committee decided on a site for the new school — presently split between Kilrymont and South Street — last month.
At the time opposition councillors called for more time to consider Pipeland and other options.
Alan Paul, the council's property services senior manager, said: ''A decision was taken by the education and children's services committee last month that the council's preferred option for Madras would be the remodel and new build option at Kilrymont. No other option is currently being considered.
''I have responded to the Muir Group's letter addressing the issues they have raised.''
The developer suggested that the £1 million discount could pay for a 25-metre swimming pool.
Mr Paul said: ''At Dunfermline High School we considered the cost of reprovision of a similar new-build facility to the one at Kilrymont and were advised that we should budget approximately £4 million for a 20-metre to 25-metre pool with associated changing and access facilities to include hoists, etc.
''Since this cost was in excess of the budget allocated against the combined sports facilities for Madras, it could not be justified. However, we are advised the cost of retaining and refurbishing the pool at Kilrymont will be significantly less than the cost of providing a new-build pool.''
Ronnie Muir of Muir Group said: ''Our offer allows the students, teachers, parents and the wider community to consider properly all the benefits that a new single-campus Madras College would have at Pipeland Farm, which would fully negate the need for the widespread disruption to pupils' education while they are being taught in Portakabins during the Kilrymont refurbishment, at an expected cost of £1.5 million.
''This wasted money could be put towards the purchase of Pipeland Farm.''
Add a comment