The possible need for a school on a Greenfield site normally comes to the attention of my Department when a local authority is preparing a draft action plan for a developing area. Officials from my Department meet local authorities as necessary to identify and anticipate such school accommodation needs. My Department's general aim is to ensure that the school is provided only when the need has clearly emerged. The extent of existing school provision in the general area and the length of time it takes the area to mature are critical factors in determining when a new school should be provided.
In the case of an application for additional permanent accommodation-major refurbishment at an existing school the possibility of changing the extension-refurbishment project into a new school on a Greenfield site only comes into the equation on receipt of the stage 1 submission -site suitability, briefing and site report. The project is then examined from an architectural, educational and value for money point of view and the best possible option is decided upon.