CHAGFORD’S new primary school has been given the provisional go-ahead despite a substantial raft of local criticism about the building which has split the community, writes Paul James.

Dartmoor planners voted 11 to two in favour of backing the ambitious £2.6-million scheme, which is expected to get final delegated approval from the national park authority’s chief executive and chairman, subject to any amended plans being received.

More than 100 people lodged comments on the controversial enterprise, with 56 letters of objection and 55 of support.

One objector, parent and art director Alex Stannus, spoke at Friday’s debate. Afterwards he dismissed the new school as a ‘concrete box’.

He told members of the development management committee that the applicants had failed to deliver a ‘well-designed facade worthy of a landmark building.’

He reckoned that rejecting the application would be ‘closing the door on mediocrity.’

Mr Stannus argued there was an enormous opportunity to throw out the plan and come up with something which was ‘inspiring, exciting and stimulating.’

He told the committee: ‘Measured by the authority’s own objectives to encourage high quality, sympathetic and well informed design, this scheme fails.’

He even quoted the authority’s own director of planning, Stephen Belli, who had previously admitted the new building would be too dominant and overbearing at the entrance to Chagford.

Mr Stannus felt that backers were being ‘pressured into accepting what is expedient only for the applicant, the contractor.’

But Tony Pollintine, for the applicants, insisted: ‘The new school will relate to its immediate context in terms of positioning, scale and massing but also in terms of the materials used.

‘The white rendered facades, pitched slate roofing and clad apexed school hall all combine to anchor the proposed school in Chagford’s rich architectural heritage.’

He added that great care had been taken to create the best possible learning environment with high levels of daylight and ventilation being achieved.

Members heard the old school, built in 1936, had been earmarked for demolition in the summer holidays of 2018. The cleared land would accommodate improved and slightly larger playing areas behind the new school.

He believed the scheme offered a building ‘appropriate to the 21st century.’

Mr Belli accepted that the building under discussion could have been improved as he had ‘high design principles.’ But not everything was possible in the scheme of things.

‘There is clearly an overwhelming desire not to stand in the way of such a much-needed facility for Chagford,’ he said.

Member Dr Ian Mortimer conceded that the design of the building did ‘lack inspiration.’

He wondered whether something could not be done to the old building which would ‘bring it up to scratch.’

And if this could not be done he would want to see a more inspirational design submitted.

David Lloyd felt the designers had forgotten their building was earmarked for a national park.

‘This is not suitable for a national park. They have got to get this right — and they have said they will reconsider matters if the application is refused. I feel quite strongly that we should do this,’ he protested.

Mr Belli said that if the application was refused there would be some uncertainty over any future proposals ‘coming forward.’

Bill Cann thought the current school building was ‘in a very poor state.’

‘I’m in favour of a new building - but whether it’s a great design is another ball game,’ he said.