HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

BUILDING DESIGN PROJECT APPRAISAL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - POLICY & RESOURCES

14 FEBRUARY 2002

PROJECT:	HOUNSDOWN SECONDARY SCHOOL, TOTTON
	BASIC NEED EXTENSION TO PROVIDE NEW ART BLOCK AND GENERAL TEACHING ACCOMMODATION AND INTERNAL ALTERATIONS
COMMENCEMENT DATE:	APRIL 2002
COMPLETION DATE:	FEBRUARY 2003
PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME:		2001/ 02

RECOMMENDATION:

That the building design project appraisal for the Hounsdown Secondary School scheme be approved.

1. FINANCE

Capital Expenditure	Current Estimate (at Nov '00 prices) £'000	Capital Programme (at Nov '00 prices) £'000
Buildings	846	574
Fees	112	92
Land to be purchased	_	_
TOTAL	* 958	666

* 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.

Furniture and Equipment: subject to the County Education Officer's assessment of need with the Headteacher, together with the availability of funding, a furniture and equipment allocation will be made from the block vote in the Education Committee's Capital Programme in the appropriate financial year.

Financial Provision for Total Scheme	Buildings £'000	Fees £'000	Total Cost £'000
1. From Committee's own Resources:
a) Capital Programme 2001/02	574	92	666
b) Education - Modernisation Suitability funding **	126	20	146
c) School - devolved capital	126	0	126
d) School - delegated budget	20	0	20
TOTAL	846	112	958

** Subject to the approval of a report by the County Education Officer to the March 2002 meeting of the Executive Member - Education.

Anticipated Devolved Capital allocations

2001/02 65,000

2002/03 36,000

2003/04 60,000 TOTAL 161,000

Landlord Funded Work connected with this Scheme

There is no Landlord funded work to be undertaken as part of this scheme.

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 = £1,109 per m²

The above net cost relates to the new build element of the scheme only. It would be misleading to provide a gross cost per m² owing to the alterations elements of the scheme

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	15	15	73	88
Unit cost (£) (e.g. per place)	-	-	-	-	-
% variation to Committee's budget	-				-
Number of additional Staff (fte)	-				-

(a) Energy Costs

The existing school comprises some 7,725 m² of accommodation and the annual fuel cost is approximately £29,000.

Upon completion of this project the school will be enlarged by some 535m² and it is anticipated that the annual increase in fuel cost for the school will be in the order of £1,300.

(b) Maintenance Costs

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

2. STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

A bid was made to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to extend this school by 104 places. The bid was made over two years - 50 places for 2000/01 and 54 places for 2002/03. The bid was successful and upon completion of the works the school will have a capacity of 1,226 places. The current number on roll is 1,123 with a projected increase to 1,225 pupils by September 2005.

3. DETAILS OF SITE

LOCATION

Hounsdown Secondary School is located at Jacob's Gutter Lane, Hounsdown, Totton.

ADJOINING LAND AND BUILDINGS

The site is bounded to the north by Jacob's Gutter Lane and beyond is the Bournemouth to London railway line. Council Offices and depot premises lie to the north-west and to the west is Jacob's Lodge, the Hounsdown Centre and housing beyond. To the south-east is Jacob's Gutter and the mature woodland belt of Newman's Copse. Open land extends beyond the school playing fields to the south-west.

AREA INCLUDING COMPARISON WITH LOCAL/NATIONAL STANDARDS

The total site area is 20.48 acres (8.29 hectares). The DfES guideline for a school of this size is 20.60 acres (8.35 hectares).

PLANNING POSITION

A detailed formal Planning Application was submitted to the County Planning Officer during December 2001 and an outcome is expected during February 2002.

SUITABILITY FOR PROJECT

The proposals outlined in this design project appraisal have been developed in consultation with the Headteacher and Governors of the school and also with the County Council's Art Advisor, Design and Technology Inspector and Access Officer.

Upon completion of the project the school will be enlarged to accommodate 1,225 pupils.

The school will have the required amount of accommodation for the anticipated rise in pupil numbers and will benefit from better organised art, design and technology accommodation and improved general teaching accommodation.

RESULTS OF TRIAL BORE HOLES

Site investigations have been undertaken for previous building developments on this site and these reports have been used in the preparation of this scheme. The results have previously revealed the ground condition to be 0.3m of topsoil overlying a firm, becoming still, sandy/silty clay to a depth of approximately 4m.

Previously the foundations have been concrete pads supporting the superstructure columns with reinforced concrete ground beams. The ground floor was a suspended pre-cast floor.

It is anticipated that similar foundations will be used in this development and a second site investigation is currently being undertaken, the results of which will be available in due course.

ACCESS

The vehicular and pedestrian access point to the school is from Jacob's Gutter Lane to the north of the site.

There will be no change to the existing access arrangements currently used at this site.

A contractors compound will be established around the site of the proposed new accommodation. There is good access for vehicles on this site with an existing road, with a turning head, leading from the main vehicular entrance to the development site. Temporary fencing with specific pedestrian crossing points will be established in certain areas of the site to ensure pupils can move around the site in safety.

COMMENTS ON SITE LAYOUT

The school buildings are positioned to the north-west of the site with the main entrance and car park to the north. Open amenity space and playing field areas surround the buildings to the north-east, south-east and south-west.

The new Arts Block will be positioned to the east of the existing buildings on site in the area bordering Jacob's Gutter and Newman Copse. This location has been chosen as it provides good physical links to other art curriculum areas such as music and drama and also because it is one of the least intensively used of the school's open amenity spaces.

MAINS SERVICES POSITION

As part of these proposals a new electrical sub main cable will be installed for the new Arts block. The alterations work to the existing buildings elsewhere on site will require the replacement of the distribution boards and new sub main cable for the new food technology room and replacement of the distribution boards for the proposed new general teaching room.

MAINTENANCE IMPLICATIONS

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

LANDSCAPE PROPOSALS

The new building will have perimeter paving and a paved entrance area which will connect to an existing footpath. Two new trees will be planted adjacent to the new building.

4. THE PROPOSEDBUILDING/RATIONALISATION/CONVERSION

TYPE OF PROJECT, LAYOUT AND FACILITIES PROVIDED

It is proposed to construct a single storey teaching block on an area of grass to the east of the existing buildings on site. The accommodation will comprise:

- two art classrooms

- art / pottery classroom

- textiles classroom

- general teaching classroom

- kiln room

- office

- wet store room

- two general stores

- plant room

- central corridor / circulation space

The new building is divided into a front and rear section separated by a central corridor which will have roof lights to maximise natural lighting. The main entrance will be to the south west and will link to an existing footpath. The front section of the building will have views to the open space adjacent to the swimming pool and contains the general teaching areas, ancillary accommodation and the art / pottery space. The rear of the building will contain the larger volume art teaching spaces with views to the east towards Newman's Copse.

Internal alterations will comprise the conversion of an existing textiles room to a food technology room. The converted accommodation will adjoin the existing food technology room to provide a teaching base of two classrooms for food technology. Two existing art rooms will be converted to general teaching spaces.

The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has undertaken an assessment of the WC provision for this school and has determined that no additional WCs will be required as part of these works. The school currently has two Assisted WCs elsewhere on site, however, if the school should be further developed then additional pupil WCs and an Assisted WC will be required.

PLACES PROVIDED

Upon completion of this project an additional 104 places in permanent accommodation will be provided.

PRESENT/REDUNDANT BUILDINGS AND FUTURE USE

The original school was constructed during 1969 and many additional teaching blocks and extensions have been added during the 1970's and 1990's. The buildings are composed of a number of differing ages and heights, ranging from single to three storeys and include traditional brick buildings and SCOLA system buildings. The buildings are linked by courtyards and footpaths.

The existing buildings on site are considered to be in a good condition for their age and type.

TEMPORARY BUILDINGS

There are no temporary buildings on this school site and none will be required either during or upon completion of these proposals.

SITUATION ON SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The proposed location of the new arts block has been carefully chosen to compliment the location of existing buildings on site and minimise the movement of pupils around the site.

Any visual impact of the new building will be minimised due to its location on the site and the planting of trees will soften the lines of the new building.

TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION, FINISH AND APPEARANCE

The existing buildings on site are constructed from varying external building materials including brickwork, timber and system cladding. Roofs are generally flat with some pitched roofs such as that of the swimming pool building.

The new art block will be of a single storey construction with a profiled metal pitched roof over the rear of the building with a high performance felt covering over the front of the building. The building will have facing brickwork to the rear with vertical timber boarding to the front to match the adjacent drama building (completed recently) and all windows will be double glazed with aluminium colour coated frames.

FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED

The building will have level entrance / exit points and will have level access throughout to ensure all pupils have access to all areas of the building.

HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS

The existing heating plant equipment will be extended to serve the new teaching block and a new manifold serving under-floor heating will be installed.

Ventilation will be by natural means via opening windows with mechanical assistance to the kiln and store rooms.

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 the additional basic need places required to accommodate a future increase in pupil numbers. The scheme will also satisfy the school's request for improved art accommodation.

CAR PARKING

There will be no change to the arrangements of the existing main school car park located to the north of the school site.

CONSULTATIONS

The following have been consulted during the development of the project: Headteacher and Governors of the school, County Education Officer, County Planning Officer, New Forest District Council, County Surveyor, Estates Practice, HCC Art Advisor, HCC Design and Technology Inspector, HCC Access Officer, Executive Member - Education, Members of Education Buildings Advisory Group, Local County Councillor.

5. THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT

Upon completion of these proposals the school will heave the required amount of teaching accommodation to accommodate a rise in the number of pupils in future years with much improved art facilities.

The planning application for these works includes a site development plan that indicates the school's future site development aspirations which include

a possible future location for a four badminton court sports hall and improvements to the entrance area, car parking and coach circulation, all of which are subject to future capital funding being made available.

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 and

Regulatory Services

Quantity Surveying - John, Watson & Carter

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering - Gifford & Partners

Structural Engineering - Property, Business and

Regulatory Services

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