Current status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Renfrewshire Council regarding the decision to put the Park Mains High School expansion plan before the Planning Board in November 2025, in light of the reported concerns regarding the plan raised by Audit Scotland and members of the community, and what assessment it has made of the local authority's decision, including the extent to which the plan fits with National Planning Framework 4.
I refer the member to the answer to question S6O-02777 on 23 November 2023 on advising that in 2023 the Scottish Government discussed school provision in the Dargavel and Bishopton areas with Renfrewshire Council. While the Scottish Government has since sought updates, it has had no role in developing the Park Mains High School expansion planning application (25/0510/PP), submitted to Renfrewshire Council on 30th June 2025. It is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estates. Answer to oral questions can be found: Meeting of the Parliament: 23/11/2023 | Scottish Parliament Website
Primary responsibility for determining planning applications and local planning matters lies with the local planning authority in the first instance. All planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. As this is a live planning case it would be not be appropriate to comment on the merits or handling of the case.