HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

BUILDING DESIGN PROJECT APPRAISAL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - EDUCATION

11 OCTOBER 2001

PROJECT:	ST FRANCIS SPECIAL SCHOOL
	NEW POST 16 UNIT
COMMENCEMENT DATE:	JANUARY 2002
COMPLETION DATE:	JUNE 2002
PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME:		2001/ 02

RECOMMENDATION:

That the building design project appraisal for the St Francis Special School scheme be approved.

1. FINANCE

Capital Expenditure	Current Estimate (at Nov '00 prices) £'000	Capital Programme (at Nov '00 prices) £'000
Buildings	283	273
Fees	44	44
Land to be purchased	_	_
TOTAL	327	317

* The means by which the difference between the Current Estimate and the Capital Programme allocation is to be met can be found in the table below.

Financial Provision for Total Scheme	Buildings £'000	Fees £'000	Total Cost £'000
1. From Education Resources:
a) Minor Works Capital Programme	131	21	152
b) Price's Trust Funding	142	23	165
c) School contribution	10	0	10
TOTAL	283	44	327

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Landlord Funded Work connected with this Scheme

There is no Landlord funded work to be undertaken as part of these proposals.

Value of Land already acquired for this Project

The land forming the site of the development is an integral part of the school campus and is incapable of disposal in isolation. The land was acquired at historic cost and its current value to the County Council is as part of the ground of the establishment.

Building Cost - Net Cost = £1,022 per m²

Revenue Implications

	(a) Employees £'000	(b) Other £'000	(a+b) Net Current Expenditure £'000	(c) Capital Charges £'000	(a+b+c) Total Net Expenditure £'000
Revenue Implications Additional+ /Reductions	Nil	Nil	Nil	25	25
Unit cost (£) (e.g. per place)	-	-	-	-	-
% variation to Committee's Budget	-				-
Number of Additional Staff (fte)	-				-

(a) Energy Costs

The existing school comprises some 1,665 m² of accommodation and the annual fuel cost is approximately £ 9,500. This amount does not include the temporary building sited for use by the Post 16 Unit.

Upon completion of this project it is anticipated that the annual increase in fuel cost for the school will be in the order of £950.

(b) Maintenance Costs

The detailed design and choice of materials will minimise future maintenance liability.

2. STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

Howard House is currently located in temporary accommodation on the St Francis School site following the sale of its former site. The use of temporary accommodation was agreed by the then DfEE on a short term basis until suitable permanent accommodation could be provided.

This project provides for a dedicated Post 16 Unit with appropriate specialist teaching accommodation and facilities in a permanent building. On completion the building has been designed to cater for up to 12 children.

3. DETAILS OF SITE

LOCATION

St Francis Special School is located at Patchway Drive, Fareham.

ADJOINING LAND AND BUILDINGS

To the north of the school site is The Avenue (A27) with housing beyond. To the east is further housing with Fareham College beyond. Heathfield School and Ranvilles Infant & Junior Schools lie to the south of the site and to the west is residential accommodation with Titchfield Road (B3334) beyond.

AREA INCLUDING COMPARISON WITH LOCAL/NATIONAL STANDARDS

The total site area is 3.08 acres (1.25 hectares). There are no overall guidelines for Special schools.

PLANNING POSITION

Planning for this project was approved during August 2001.

SUITABILITY FOR PROJECT

The proposals outlined in this appraisal will enable the creation of a Post 16 Unit in permanent purpose built accommodation. The design has been tailored to meet the specific needs of the users and will provide teaching, specialist and ancillary spaces for pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).

The Headteacher and staff have been consulted throughout the feasibility and design stages and the proposals have been agreed by the school Governors and Headteacher.

RESULTS OF TRIAL BORE HOLES

A site investigation was undertaken at this site during 1994 in the area of the proposed new Post 16 Unit and the results of that investigation have been used in the preparation of the proposed scheme.

The investigation revealed made ground over silty sandy gravel at approximately 2.4m below existing ground level.

Allowing for the proposed building being cut into the existing ground by 1m, foundations will be taken down to approximately 1.4m below finished ground level. For walls they will be 0.6m wide with 0.9m square pads for the columns. Due to the depth of fill overlying the gravel, suspended ground floor slabs will be used. Similarly, the proposed ramp retaining walls will also found in the gravel.

ACCESS

The main vehicular and pedestrian access point to the school site is from Patchway Drive to the south east corner of the site. The access road runs from this entrance along the eastern boundary of the site to the main school building entrance and onto a turning circle to the north east.

Existing vehicular and pedestrian access arrangements will apply on completion of these proposals.

It is proposed that a contractors compound will be established to the north of the existing school buildings adjacent to the proposed new accommodation. The contractor will share the main vehicular entrance point with the school, however, site restrictions on time and place of deliveries and working hours will be enforced and construction traffic will not be allowed during the busy drop-off and pick-up times of the school.

COMMENTS ON SITE LAYOUT

The school building is positioned centrally on this site with the main entrance to the south east corner and access road and car parking along the eastern boundary. A turning circle and set down area, six additional car parking bays and two garages are located to the north east of the site.

The existing Post 16 Unit is accommodated in two temporary units positioned to the west of the main school building.

It is proposed to construct the new accommodation directly north of the main school building and west of the garages which house the school's mini bus.

The ground level in the area of the proposed new building is 2m above the level of the adjacent turning circle and it is proposed to cut the building into the site by 1m. This will reduce the length of the ramp and stairs required between the drop-off zone and the new building.

MAINS SERVICES POSITION

Existing mains services are considered to be of a sufficient capacity to be extended as required to serve the proposed new accommodation.

MAINTENANCE IMPLICATIONS

The site will continue to be maintained in accordance with current County Council standards.

LANDSCAPE PROPOSALS

An area of hard paving will be provided to the south of the proposed new building which will provide an external play / teaching area and a ramp will connect the existing drop-off area to the new accommodation.

There are several mature trees along the northern boundary of the site and to the east of the proposed new building location which will be protected during the construction works and will not be adversely affected by these proposals.

4. THE PROPOSED BUILDING/RATIONALISATION/CONVERSION

TYPE OF PROJECT, LAYOUT AND FACILITIES PROVIDED

It is proposed to construct a single storey building on an area of grass to the north of the existing school building. The extension will provide a new Post 16 Unit in a permanent building to replace the existing unit accommodated within temporary buildings. The new building will provide the following accommodation:

- one classroom with private study area and stores

- practical teaching room with craft area, domestic kitchen area and stores

- two WC's

- accessible WC with shower and changing bed

- entrance lobby

- cleaners store with domestic boiler and sink

The Unit will be approached from the east via a new sloped entrance from the drop-off area. The secure lobby will lead into the practical teaching room with double doors leading through to the private study area and main classroom. The private study area will be of an open plan design within the main classroom to allow constant supervision to the teaching areas. The practical teaching room will have a full height glazed wall with double doors opening onto the external hard paved area to the south.

PLACES PROVIDED

Upon completion of these proposals up to 12 places will be provided.

PRESENT/REDUNDANT BUILDINGS AND FUTURE USE

The original school was constructed during 1977 with additional accommodation being added during 1997. The buildings are considered to be in a good condition.

TEMPORARY BUILDINGS

There is a double temporary building located to the west of the main school building which currently accommodates the Post 16 Unit. This unit is in a good condition and will be removed from site and the area reinstated upon completion of the new accommodation.

SITUATION ON SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Any visual impact on site will be minimal as the new building is to the rear of the site behind existing buildings on site.

The site will benefit from the removal of a temporary building and the provision of a dedicated external play / teaching area. No trees will be removed from site as part of these proposals.

TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION, FINISH AND APPEARANCE

The principal teaching areas of the new building will have yellow facing external brick walls to match the existing school building with polyester powder coated aluminium clerestory windows. The roof will be mono pitched with the high point forming a clerestory facing south with opening glazed panels for ventilation at the low end. The mono pitched roof will have a traditional standing seam metal covering.

The front of the building will have a red cedar cladding and polyester powder coated aluminium glazing. The roof to this area will have a high performance single membrane covering. All south facing windows will be specially treated to prevent solar heat gain.

FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED

Due to the differing levels on this site a ramp will be provided to the main entrance of the Post 16 Unit which will lead from the drop-off area adjacent to the new building.

All entrance / exit points will be ramped and an accessible WC with shower and adult changing bed will be provided in the new accommodation.

Suitable storage will be provided in the main teaching areas for the large amount of specialist equipment required for these pupils.

HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS

A domestic boiler will be installed in the cleaners store in the new building which will serve a low pressure hot water system feeding underfloor heating.

Ventilation to the building will be by natural means via windows with mechanical ventilation to the accessible WC.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BUILDING

The estimated annual energy consumption for the new building will meet that required by current Building Regulations.

ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS OF PROVISION CONSIDERED

These proposals have been agreed by the Headteacher and Governors of the school as being the most appropriate form of development to provide suitable specialist accommodation in permanent buildings. The proposals will also enable the removal of all temporary buildings from this site.

CAR PARKING

The existing car parking facilities are located along the length of the access road to the east of the site with six additional spaces provided to the rear of the site adjacent to two garages. This area provides a turning circle for the majority of the drop-off and pick-up traffic of the school and will provide the main set down area for the proposed new building.

CONSULTATIONS

The following have been consulted during the development of the project: Headteacher and Governors of the school, County Education Officer, County Planning Officer, County Surveyor, Estates Practice.

5. THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT

The proposed accommodation has been sensitively designed to provide suitable specialist teaching accommodation for pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties.

The new accommodation has been carefully planned to make optimum use of the available space on this site and will enable the removal of a temporary building from site.

6. BUILDING MANAGEMENT

CLEANING

Existing arrangements will apply.

CATERING

Existing arrangements will apply.

7. FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT

From the block vote in the Education Committee's Capital Programme.

8. STAFFING

Existing arrangements will apply.

9. FEES

Architectural Services - Property, Business & Regulatory Services

Quantity Surveying - Grant Associates

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering - Property, Business &

Structural Engineering Regulatory Services.

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