Councillors have given conditional approval for a nursery to be built at the former Forfar Academy site in Taylor Street.
The application for the erection of a nursery included the formation of car parking, drainage infrastructure, landscaping, enclosures and other associated works.
The site extends to approximately five hectares and comprises part of the grounds of the former Forfar Academy which was demolished upon completion of the Forfar Community Campus in 2017.
The application which came before members of the development standards committee in Forfar was amended to remove the proposed access from Hanick Terrace onto the existing footway between the Forfar Community Campus and Taylor Street.
The removal of the proposed access followed a number of letters of representation from local residents.
The majority of third party comments supported the principle of the proposal but objected to the reopening of the currently locked pedestrian gate and the construction of a pathway.
Protestors said the gate was put there to prevent the “daily confrontation with unruly challenging students who created a significant littering problem and invaded the privacy of local residents”.
There were fears allowing access via Hanick Terrace would lead to more vehicular traffic, increased noise, nuisance and loss of privacy for residents.
Planning chief Kate Cowey said: “The proposal will provide for a new education facility in a manner that complies with relevant policies of the development plan subject to the stated planning conditions.
“There are no material considerations that justify refusal of the planning application contrary to the provisions of the development plan.
“The site is an established location for the provision of education and it is safeguarded for community use.
“The proposed site is accessible by walking, cycling, and public transport. There are a number of bus stops approximately 400m from the site.
“The site is also easily reached by vehicles from the adjacent road network. The single storey design allows for full accessibility for people with restricted mobility.”
The existing electricity substation located in the east of the site would be relocated to the south-west corner, adjacent to a proposed bin store.
A number of trees and mixed shrubs are proposed across the site with a looped vehicular access, utilising existing junctions from the former Academy onto Taylor Street.
Thirty-eight car parking spaces would be put in place and two motorcycle parking spaces.
There will also be a number of new boundary treatments including 1.8m high fences and 1.5m high walls.
The committee unanimously voted through the application.
