Hampshire County Council

Education Buildings Advisory Group

29 September 2003

Executive Member - Education

16 October 2003

Chalk Ridge Primary School, Basingstoke

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

Chalk Ridge Primary School is located in Brighton Hill, Basingstoke. There are currently 383 4-11 year old pupils on roll. The original school building, of SCOLA construction, was erected in 1974, with administration and classroom extensions being made in 1995 and 2000. The school now comprises two distinct blocks of accommodation in an `H' shape.

1.2

The total cost of the scheme is £423,000, excluding fees. An allocation of £362,000, excluding fees, has been made in the Education Committee's 2003/04 Capital Programme, an allocation of £11,000, excluding fees, has been made in the temporary classroom budget, and the School is contributing £50,000.

1.3

This scheme, to provide two new classrooms and a new library extension, will increase the capacity of the school by 30 places to 420 places as a result of the review of primary school education in Southwest Basingstoke following the fire at Beechdown Primary School.

1.4

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.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

It is proposed to construct two new classrooms either side of the recent single classroom extension at the northern end of the original SCOLA building, and a new library extension to the southern end. The proposed new classrooms will thereby rationalise the end of the larger block by extending the building line of the original SCOLA building. The library extension will abut one side of the south elevation of the original SCOLA building, maintaining the existing junior entrance into the school and forming a new gated entrance to the site. The existing classroom extension will be refurbished to provide an IT area, thus freeing up circulation space currently housing IT equipment.

2.2

It will be necessary to remove a number of trees as part of this scheme and it is therefore proposed to replace these in a position to be agreed with the School. Other landscaping works include modification of the existing entrance gates and provision of a new entrance gate to serve the reception class. Existing planting will be modified and enhanced with new planting. At the library extension end it is proposed to modify the entrance area and provide barrier protection to the carriageway.

3.

Funding and Timing

3.1

Funding of £362,000, excluding fees, has been allocated in the Education Committee's 2003/04 Capital Programme, with a further £11,000, excluding fees, being allocated from the temporary classroom budget. The School is contributing £50,000 towards the cost of this scheme.

3.2

Subject to the necessary approvals it is anticipated that tenders will be invited during December 2003, work will commence on site during February 2004 and be completed during August 2004.

4.

4.1

4.2

Procurement

As outlined in the Buildings, Land and Contracts Panel meeting of 25 July 2003, it is proposed to procure these works under a partnership arrangement that will be linked to the Major Projects Framework Agreement.

It is therefore proposed to combine this scheme with the projects at Hatch Warren and Manor Field Schools as a package of work through a Framework Contractor. This will enable economies of scale in procurement and management of the three projects which form part of the work associated with the Southwest Basingstoke Schools Reorganisation.

Conclusion

This scheme will provide a two classroom extension and new library at Chalk Ridge Primary School and approval is accordingly sought to this design project appraisal.