Planned new Wick school's colour scheme 'depressing'

The community council asks whether children should be consulted on the colour

The colour scheme shown in plans for a new £14m school in Wick has been criticised by a community council.

Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council described the exterior of the replacement building for Wick North Primary as "depressing dark grey".

It has suggested that Highland Council consult children on an appropriate colour.

Wick North and Hillhead primaries would be merged into the new school under plans being considered by councillors.

The proposed Wick North Primary campus would be able to accommodate 387 pupils and 90 nursery school children.

It would have community facilities, including sports pitches and a multi-use games area.

Highland Council's north planning applications committee approved the plans at a meeting on Tuesday.

Construction work is expected to start later this year.

'Mid grey tones'

In its response to a consultation on the plans, the community council said the designs showed "an extremely depressing dark grey exterior for the school".

The organisation added: "Have the designers consulted school children over what colour the new school should be?"

It said the new sports hall was shown in the plans as "a large expanse of uninterrupted vertical surfaces in the mid grey tones".

In a report, Highland Council officials said the design did not reflect local architecture, or feature traditional building materials.

The report added: "However, the building will provide a variety of modern, functional and adaptable spaces for the future of education provision from ages three to 12 within the northern part of Wick and the country catchment area.

"Such an investment in the future for the area is to be welcomed."