FOI Request - Site for new Forres Academy
Request 101003443245
1. Details of the reasons why the other sites initially proposed for the new Forres Academy were eliminated, leaving only 3 possible sites remaining.
2. Details of whether the common good land comprised in the site at Roysvale Park, Forres proposed for the new Forres Academy is alienable or inalienable. Please provide supporting evidence to confirm the position.
3. Confirmation of whether the walking / cycling path that runs through Roysvale Park (which was tarmacked last year) is a public right of way.
4. Confirmation of whether the trees on Roysvale Park and on Applegrove School playing fields are subject to tree preservation orders? If so, which trees are subject to such orders.
5. Details and results of the flooding assessment or similar which has taken place in respect of the current Forres Academy site which I understand has determined that the current site is a flood risk, in spite of the flood defences that have been installed to protect Forres.
6. The results of any flooding assessment that has taken place regarding the site proposed for the new Forres Academy at Roysvale Park / Applegrove School, Forres.
7. The results of the environmental impact assessment or similar that has taken place at the 3 proposed possible sites for the new Forres Academy (being Roysvale Park / Applegrove School, Lochyhill and Grantown Road, Forres).
8. Details of the involvement of public health in determining the feasibility of the 3 proposed possible sites for the new Forres Academy (being Roysvale Park / Applegrove School, Lochyhill and Grantown Road).
Response 22-12-2023
1. Originally 8 sites were considered for a new build. 3 of these were not shortlisted for further assessment as considered too small and/or within flood or flood alleviation impacted areas. Of the remaining 5 ‘viable’ sites council officers subsequently discounted 2 further sites: the Grant Park site to the south of Andersons Primary on South Street due to the land being held in Trust; and, the site to the east of Mannachie Road was already targeted for development as part of the Moray Growth Deal Housing Mix project.
2. The common good land at Roysvale Park is inalienable.
3. The path is on the List of Public Roads as part of the core path network.. There is a legal process that can be gone through in order to relocate/divert such routes.
4. There are no Tree Preservation Orders (TPO's) in place at Roysvale or Applegrove.
5. Site investigation works are ongoing and will inform the development of the design brief for the new academy
6. As 5. (above)
7. The requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment would only be determined through the planning application stage.
8. Public health have not been involved in determining the feasibility of the 3 proposed sites. A wide range of stakeholders will be engaged as the project progresses.