Hampshire County Council

Education Buildings Advisory Group

2 May 2003

Executive Member - Education

22 May 2003

Priestlands School, Pennington, Lymington

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

Priestlands Secondary School is situated in Pennington, near Lymington, on a site shared with Pennington C of E Junior and County Infant Schools. There are currently 1,123 pupils on roll. The original school buildings were erected in 1957, of traditional brick construction. Additional accommodation has been added over the years, mainly of traditional brick construction.

1.2

The project is a partnership initiative between Hampshire County Council, Priestlands School, Lymington Town Council and New Forest District Council to develop the existing sports facilities at the Recreation Centre, which is managed by New Forest District Council.

1.3

The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design of the proposed additional accommodation and the purpose of this report is to outline the design proposals and seek approval to the attached design project appraisal at an estimated cost of £2,023,000 excluding fees.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

The project will provide an all-weather synthetic turf pitch outdoor playing surface for the development of youth hockey and a County standard facility for inter-club tournaments and school matches. Also, a fitness suite, changing and multi-use hall plus associated changing facilities.

2.2

The multi-use hall will include storage facilities for uses including martial arts, aerobics, movement, mind/body and table tennis. The health and fitness suite will include a separate fitness assessment area and reception area. The synthetic turf pitch is positioned to the west of the existing Recreation Centre.

3.

Funding and Timing

3.1

The County Council has been successful in securing Stage 1 Lottery funding from Sport England. An allocation has also been made in the Education Committee's 2003/04 Capital Programme and further funding has been secured from New Forest District Council and Lymington Town Council.

3.2

A capital receipt from the sale of a property in Lymington, currently valued at £350,000, has been earmarked as a County Council contribution to the project. This is subject to final approval by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources and obtaining planning permission from New Forest District Council for an appropriate development use. A report on the use of the potential capital receipt will be presented to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources at his meeting on 12 June 2003.

3.3

The shortfall between the funding available and the estimated cost of the project is £40,000 (including fees) and this will be met by identifying savings at tender stage. It should be noted that Sport England are over-committed on schemes that have Stage 1 approval and are looking at opportunities to cut funding. It is therefore important that the momentum on the project is not lost at this stage. It is proposed to procure this scheme on the basis of a competitively tendered develop and construct arrangement in order to bring the programme forward and minimise the effects of inflation on building costs and fees. This is subject to the agreement of Sport England. Once fixed prices have been obtained, liaison with Sport England and the successful contractor will take place to achieve a scheme within the funds available.

Conclusion

The scheme will fulfil the need to develop the existing sports facilities at Priestlands as a benefit for both the school and the public of Lymington, Pennington and the surrounding New Forest community. The project will provide an all-weather outdoor playing surface for the development of youth hockey and a County standard facility for inter-club tournaments and school matches. Approval is accordingly sought to the attached design project appraisal.