HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

BUILDING DESIGN PROJECT APPRAISAL

EDUCATION BUILDINGS ADVISORY GROUP

8 MARCH 2002

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - EDUCATION

22 MARCH 2002

PROJECT:	ASHLEY INFANT SCHOOL
	THREE CLASSROOM EXTENSION, INTERNAL ALTERATIONS AND EXTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
COMMENCEMENT DATE:	JUNE 2002
COMPLETION DATE:	OCTOBER 2002
PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME:		2002/ 03

RECOMMENDATION:

That, subject to the approval of the Executive Member - Education to the deferral of the Capital Programme allocation to 2002/03, the building design project appraisal for the Ashley Infant School scheme be approved.

1. FINANCE

Capital Expenditure	Current Estimate (at Nov '00 prices) £'000	Capital Programme (at Nov '00 prices) £'000
Buildings	341	297
Fees	48	48
Land to be purchased	_	_
TOTAL	389	345

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 Education Resources:
a) Capital Programme (as above) **	297	48	345
b) School - devolved capital	44	0	44
TOTAL	341	48	389

** Subject to the approval of the Executive Member - Education to the deferral of the Capital Programme allocation to 2002/03.

Anticipated Devolved Capital allocations £

2001/02 21,000

2002/03 11,000

2003/04 20,000 TOTAL 52,000

NB: The school will be making a contribution of £44,000 towards the proposals outlined in this design project appraisal.

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 = £TBC 1,250 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 element 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	6	6	30	36
Unit cost (£) (e.g. per place)	-	-	-	-	-
% variation to Committee's Budget	-				-
Number of Additional Staff (fte)	-				-

(a) Energy Costs

The existing school comprises some 1,700m² of accommodation and the annual fuel cost is approximately £7,500.

Upon completion of this project it is anticipated that the annual increase in fuel cost for the school will be in the order of £240.

(b) Maintenance Costs

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

2. STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

A basic need bid was submitted to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in September 2000 for credit approval to extend this school by 85 places. This was subsequently successful and the proposed scheme will increase the capacity of the school to 270 places. There are currently 175 pupils on roll and projected numbers show a rise to 265 pupils in September 2004.

3. DETAILS OF SITE

LOCATION

Ashley Infant school is located at Lower Ashley Road, Ashley, New Milton.

ADJOINING LAND AND BUILDINGS

The school site is bounded to the north, east and south by residential accommodation. To the west is Lower Ashley Road with further housing and the site of Ashley Junior School beyond.

AREA INCLUDING COMPARISON WITH LOCAL/NATIONAL STANDARDS

The total site area is 2.89 acres (1.17 hectares). The DfES guideline for a school of this size is 2.30 acres (0.90 hectares).

PLANNING POSITION

A detailed formal planning application was submitted to the County Planning Officer in January 2002 and a decision is expected during late March / early April 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. Upon completion of the project the school will be enlarged to accommodate 270 pupils.

The project will also enable improvements to the site and site security by the provision of a dedicated pedestrian access along with secure hard paved play areas and new areas of soft landscaping.

RESULTS OF TRIAL BORE HOLES

A previous site investigation undertaken during 1999 has been used for this proposed development. The results revealed the ground condition as being a thin layer of top soil overlying dense silts overlying very stiff gravely clays. Dense sands and gravels extended to below 0/95m depth. It was found that the site has a high water table.

It is proposed to found the single storey extension at 0.95m on the dense sands/gravel using mass concrete strips and a suspended beam and block ground floor.

ACCESS

The main vehicular access point to the school site is from Lower Ashley Road in the south-west corner of the site. This entrance is currently shared by pedestrians and vehicles and it is proposed as part of this project to create a dedicated pedestrian access further north along Lower Ashley Road in the north-west corner of the site. This will involve moving the double gates further along the boundary to the south-west and inserting a new pedestrian gate. The surrounding tarmac surface will be made good and a pedestrian pathway will be created to the new extension along with links to existing pathways leading to the main entrance of the building.

It is proposed that an existing access road running from the north-west corner, along the boundary fence to the north-east be established as a dedicated service road. The service vehicles will access the site via the repositioned double gates and the service road will only be used for deliveries and by fire engines. This will eliminate the cross over of pedestrians and vehicles on the site, with the exception of service vehicles and in case of an emergency.

COMMENTS ON SITE LAYOUT

The school site is roughly rectangular in shape with the buildings positioned in the centre of the site. The school car park is located adjacent to the main vehicular entrance in the south-west corner of the site. The areas of playground are located around all elevations of the buildings with grassed areas beyond and to the north, east and south.

The proposed new extension will adjoin the north-west elevation of the existing building near to the new pedestrian entrance. A glazed link and landscaped courtyard will also be created in this area.

Further details of the proposed external improvements to be undertaken in different areas of the site can be found on the following pages.

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

As part of this project it is proposed to improve the site security by providing a dedicated pedestrian access point in the north-west corner of the site.

A new external play area with a coloured tarmac covering will be created directly to the north-west of the proposed extension. Benches and a low level boundary fence will be provided along with an adjoining grassed landscape area further to the north.

The play area adjacent to the main entrance of the school will be extended and a widened footpath and perimeter fencing will be added. Further along the building to the north a new secure playground with a low level perimeter fence will be formed as a dedicated play area for the SLD pupils.

4. THE PROPOSED BUILDING/RATIONALISATION/CONVERSION

TYPE OF PROJECT, LAYOUT AND FACILITIES PROVIDED

It is proposed to construct a single storey extension which will adjoin the north-west elevation of the existing school on an area currently occupied by an external walled garden. The extension will provide three classrooms, each with a store and wet area, a shared work area with an openable roof light over and a landscaped courtyard with a glazed link to the new and existing accommodation.

Internal alterations to the existing building will comprise the conversion of an existing cloak area and pupil WCs to a staff room. This will provide teachers with a clear view over the landscaped play areas and beyond to the main vehicular entrance to the site and proposed new pedestrian entrance. An adjoining store will be converted to a plant room to house the plant equipment for the new extension. The existing music room will be converted to provide new pupil WCs, an Assisted WC and a cloak area to serve existing classrooms. An existing shower room and WC will be converted to a medical room.

At the north-east end of the building alterations will be undertaken to the SLD accommodation. This will comprise the conversion of the existing staff room to a music room, a WC and adjoining utility area will be refurbished to provide two WCs and a separate large WC with shower and the existing staff work room will be converted to a Sensory room.

PLACES PROVIDED

90 additional places will be provided.

PRESENT/REDUNDANT BUILDINGS AND FUTURE USE

The original school was constructed during 1948 with further additions of classrooms, entrance, links and staff facilities being added during the 1950's.

The existing buildings on site are considered to be of a good condition.

TEMPORARY BUILDINGS

There are currently no temporary buildings on this site.

Due to the anticipated increase in pupils attending the school from September 2002 it is proposed that a double temporary classroom be placed on the site to accommodate these additional pupils. This will be a temporary arrangement until October 2002 when the scheme will be completed and the temporary building will be removed.

SITUATION ON SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The site will be improved by the provision of a dedicated pedestrian access point which will separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic.

The site will benefit from extended and improved hard play areas and the security fencing provided to these areas will create a safer environment for pupils.

Although three small trees will be removed to make way for the proposed new extension, new landscaped areas with low level planting will be established adjacent to the new extension.

TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION, FINISH AND APPEARANCE

The proposed extension will be of a traditional brick construction with areas of timber cladding. The roof will have a high performance felt covering. Doors will be timber and windows will have timber frames and will be double glazed. This style will compliment the existing building to which the extension will adjoin.

FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED

The proposed extension will have level access throughout and connections to the adjoining building and external areas will be level to ensure access by persons with a physical disability.

HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS

The new extension will be heated from a new gas fired boiler serving a low pressure hot water system feeding radiators. A new plant room has been incorporated into the design to house the plant equipment.

Ventilation will be by natural means via opening windows or roof lights, with mechanical assistance to all WCs and the shower room.

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 to serve the anticipated increase in pupil numbers attending the school along with improving the external play areas and pedestrian access to the site.

CAR PARKING

The school currently has a large car park located adjacent to the main vehicular entrance, which is used by staff and visitors and this arrangement will remain unchanged. The school also use an area between two existing buildings to the north-west of the site for additional parking and it is proposed that this arrangement be terminated. The main school car park provides sufficient car parking spaces to serve a school of this size and the additional car parking area offers the school an area which could be developed in the future should funds become available. There are no plans to develop this area as part of these proposals.

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, Estates Practice, Local Councillor, Members of Education Buildings Advisory Group.

5. THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT

Upon completion of these proposals the school will have the required amount of permanent teaching accommodation to serve the anticipated increase in pupil numbers due to attend the school in the future.

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 - Format Milton Architects

Quantity Surveying - Selway Joyce Partnership

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering } Gifford and

Structural Engineering } Partners

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