Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Policy and Resources Item

11 October 2001

Mill Chase Community School, Bordon

Report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1.

Summary

1.1

Mill Chase Community School currently has 921 pupils on roll. The original school building was constructed during the late 1950's and as the number of pupils attending the school has increased over the years, additional teaching accommodation has been added, the latest developments being a new swimming pool and fitness suite and an All Weather Pitch completed during the 1990's.

1.2

Due to the need for further pupil places at this school an allocation of £847,000, excluding fees, is included in the Education 2001/02 Capital Programme to provide an additional 118 basic need places.

1.3

The purpose of this report is to outline the proposals and seek approval to the attached building design project appraisal.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

It is proposed to construct a two storey teaching block, to the east of the school site, on an area currently occupied by a rural studies building, which will be demolished at the start of the building contract. The teaching block will provide two science laboratories with a shared preparation room, two stores and an accessible WC on the ground floor. The first floor accommodation will provide three general teaching classrooms and an office. At the school's request and with the school providing funding, a covered walkway will be constructed to link the new science block to existing teaching blocks to the north and south, which are also used for teaching science.

2.2

A second extension will be constructed to the south of existing buildings on site and a glazed link will connect a new drama facility to the existing drama accommodation which occupies the ground floor of a ROSLA building to the north. The new drama block will offer a 120m² drama space, store and control room and an accessible WC will be provided.

2.3

The southern elevation of the new drama building, which faces the playing field, is designed to accommodate steps leading up from the ground floor to provide a seating / viewing area. This facility can be used for watching sports events on the playing field or for outside performances and will be included in the scheme as a tender option. The northern elevation of the new drama building will have translucent glazing to offer privacy from the adjacent tennis courts. It will be possible to fully open this large window to provide an additional space which can be used for outside performances.

2.4

Upon completion of the proposed construction works a double temporary classroom, sited to the south of the school buildings, will be removed from site, however, this will be undertaken as a separate contract and will not incur a cost to this project.

2.5

The school has also requested that other works be included as part of this project to improve the food technology accommodation. These items will be reviewed early in 2002 and can be negotiated into the contract at a later date should suitable funding be made available by the school.

2.6

Members are asked to note that the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has made arrangements for a consultant to undertake a survey of the drainage across the whole of this site. The site has a very high water table and suffers with surface water in certain areas. The results of this survey will be available within the next two months and consideration may need to be given to improving the drainage on this site in order to accommodate this additional teaching accommodation. Funding for this work has yet to be identified and will be considered upon completion of the survey and when final recommendations have been made.

3.

Funding and Timing

3.1

Funding of £847,000, excluding fees, exists in the Education 2001/02 Capital Programme for this project and the school are contributing £25,000 for the provision of a covered walkway.

3.2

A detailed costs estimate has been prepared for the proposals outlined in this appraisal and the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services is currently reviewing the design to reduce the costs in line with the available funding. It should be noted, however, that a contract will not be let until suitable savings have been identified. It is also proposed to include tender options which will include the seating / viewing area to the southern elevation of the drama building and these items will only be included in the contract if suitable funding is identified.

3.3

It is anticipated that tenders will be invited during November 2001 and that works will commence on site during February 2002 and be completed for the start of the new autumn term in September 2002.

Conclusion

The proposed extension and alteration scheme will result in additional Basic Need accommodation and replacement permanent accommodation providing an improved environment for pupils. Approval is accordingly sought to the attached design project appraisal.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report and attached appraisal.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

Building Management System reports, Property, Management &

Site surveys and investigations, Information File - PB&R

Architect's plans.

EMP&R1001b