Council gives green light for €15 million Errigal College redevelopment

A major €15 million redevelopment of Errigal College in Letterkenny has been given the go-ahead by Donegal County Council.

The local authority has granted planning permission for the demolition of the existing school building, the removal of temporary buildings and the reconstruction of a new school.

Over 500 students are catered for at Errigal College and the facility will now be totally transformed.

The new two-storey building has 9,000 square metres in gross floor area. The new building will include 27 general classrooms, 19 specialist classrooms, two special needs classrooms and a special education needs suite.

Councillor Donal Coyle, who is the Chairperson of the Donegal ETB and the Chair of the Errigal College Board of Management said: “I would like to welcome the granting of planning permission for the works at Errigal College. This will be a great boost for second level education in Letterkenny and the surrounding areas.”

A new multi-purpose hall is included in the plans and new PE accommodation, staff room, administration rooms, toilets, stores and general ancillary accommodation.

A new covered area and external construction studies store are also provided.

Parking will be significantly boosted in the development with 63 standard car parking spaces for staff and visitors while 90 cycle parking spaces will be included. Site works will also see revisions to vehicular and pedestrian access arrangements to provide set down spaces.

The proposed development also includes hard and soft landscaping, grassed play space, outdoor activity courtyards, a sensory garden and new external grass pitches.

The new development will be located on the current playing pitches at Errigal College. When the new school is completed, the existing building will be tossed to make way for the new sports pitches.

The development was applied for by Anne McHugh, the Chief Executive, on behalf of the Donegal ETB.

Donegal County Council have attached 18 conditions to the planning permission. Most are said to be in the interests of traffic safety, orderly development and public health.

They include that prior to the commencement of demolition, the applicant shall notify the Area Roads Engineer in writing outlining a plan to co-ordinate the transportation of debris in order to minimise disruption along the Kilmacrennan Road.

All waste must be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner and off-site at an authorised/licensed facility, while a detailed construction and demolition waste management plan is to be submitted and agreed.

Construction hours will be from 8am-6pm Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm on Saturday and not at all on Sundays or Bank Holidays.