A Land exchange at Michael Primary School will benefit pupils, says Eddie Teare, Minister for Education and Children. The Department of Education and Children has entered into an agreement with neighbouring landowner Pinecrest Investments Ltd and developer Heritage Homes Ltd over a land exchange, the Minister announced today. The agreement is subject to planning approval being obtained for residential development of land behind the school. Under the agreement, Heritage Homes Ltd will progress a planning application within three months. The basis of the agreement is: • The Department will convey 0.63 acres of part of the school’s corner field, fronting Douglas Road, to the landowner, to afford access to a new housing development on land already zoned for residential development. • The Department will receive 2.01 acres of land to the north and east (rear) of the school site from the landowner. • The developer will create a new sports pitch, hard play area and boundary works, including ball-stop fencing, boundary fencing, gates, walls, ramps, paths and landscaping, at no cost to the Department. Land will also be kept clear to allow for the future enlargement of the school. A covenant will prevent the development of more than 100 homes on the zoned land, and any development on the land beyond that accessed through the zoned land, without the DEC’s agreement. Minister Teare said the land behind the school was zoned for residential use. Through purchasing properties on Douglas Road, the developers had secured an alternative means of access to the zoned land anyway. Lengthy negotiations had ensured the school benefited from relinquishing some land to allow the developer better access, he commented. ‘If we hadn’t acted, there was the strong potential of development up to our existing rear boundary. We needed to protect the future of the school,’ Mr Teare said. ‘Negotiating with the landowner/developer to buy additional land at the rear, if/when they secure residential planning approval could have cost between ?0.5 and ?1 million and we wouldn’t have seen the added benefits. ‘The securing of an additional 1.38 acres of land, the provision of a sports pitch and new hard play area and land to the north of the school for future classroom development, as and when rolls dictate, is of definite advantage to the school.’ Ends