Archived decisions
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
BUILDING DESIGN PROJECT APPRAISAL |
EXECUTIVE MEMBER - RECREATION & HERITAGE
22 JANUARY 2004
BUILDINGS, LAND AND PROCUREMENT PANEL
27 JANUARY 2004
EXECUTIVE MEMBER - POLICY AND RESOURCES
19 FEBRUARY 2004
PROJECT: |
GOSPORT DISCOVERY CENTRE | |
RECONFIGURATION AND REFURBISHMENT OF GOSPORT LIBRARY TO CREATE A NEW DISCOVERY CENTRE | ||
COMMENCEMENT DATE: |
MARCH 2004 | |
COMPLETION DATE: |
DECEMBER 2004 | |
PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: |
2003/ 04 | |
RECOMMENDATION:
That the building design project appraisal for the proposed new Gosport Discovery Centre scheme be approved.
1. FINANCE
Capital Expenditure |
Current Estimate £'000 |
Capital Programme £'000 |
Buildings |
1,791 |
1,724 |
Fees |
287 |
276 |
Land to be purchased |
_ |
_ |
TOTAL |
2,078 |
2,000 |
An allocation for the fit out of the Discovery Centre, including furniture and equipment, is included in the above estimate.
Financial Provision for Total Scheme |
Buildings £'000 |
Fees £'000 |
Total Cost £'000 |
1. From Committee's own Resources: |
|||
a) Capital Programme 03/04 |
862 |
138 |
1,000 |
b) Capital Programme 04/05 |
862 |
138 |
1,000 |
TOTAL |
1,724 |
276 |
2,000 |
There is currently a difference of £67,000, excluding fees, between the current estimate and the financial provision for the scheme. Work is currently underway to reduce this figure and a savings strategy will be implemented during negotiation with the preferred contractor.
Landlord Funded Work connected with this Scheme
There are no Landlord funded works being undertaken as part of this project.
Value of Land already acquired for this Project
The building was acquired at historic cost and its current value to the County Council is an important operational establishment.
Building Cost: It would be misleading to provide a net and gross cost for this project as the work comprises mainly of internal reorganisation and refurbishment.
Revenue Implications: The staffing structure for the Discovery Centre has not yet been finalised and whilst it is anticipated that there will be no additional cost for the Discovery Centre opening for the same hours as the current library, if opening hours are extended to later in the evening and on Sundays then there could be additional staffing costs in the region of £100,000 per annum. Longer opening hours would also mean a corresponding net increase in premises and other running costs which could be in the region of £50,000 per annum. The other running costs include £38,000 for IT costs which are revenue consequences of the capital programme. Some of the remaining costs will be met from increased income and the balance will be funded from within Recreation and Heritage services.
(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 |
100 |
50 |
150 |
103 |
253 |
Unit cost (£) (e.g. per place) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
% variation to Committee's budget |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
Number of additional Staff (fte) |
7 |
- |
(a) Energy Costs
It is anticipated that the fuel cost for the Discovery Centre will be in the order of £3.79 per m².
(b) Maintenance Costs
The detailed design and choice of materials will minimise future maintenance liability.
2. STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT
The Discovery Centre presents the opportunity to address the growing need for greater integrated access to public services, and is part of the wider response to the decline in book lending nationwide.
The Discovery Centre will establish a modernised Library Service with associated learning opportunities and facilities, a new Local Studies Centre, a new Museum display and appropriate heritage information integrated with the other services provided in the Discovery Centre, an art gallery, free internet access, a café and flexible spaces so that partner organisations and community groups can also use the building.
The current Gosport Library building, and Gosport Museum across the road, are both in need of refurbishment and modernisation, have extensive accommodation, and present an ideal opportunity to develop new facilities services for the public in Gosport.
Key community groups in the town, ranging from youth and learning groups and those representing the elderly and disabled people, to arts, history and local commerce organisations, are currently being consulted on the types of services they would like to see in the centre and the outcome of this consultation will influence the final design and use of space.
The centre will be young people friendly to address the needs of this group, which is currently under-represented amongst the current user base.
3. DETAILS OF SITE
LOCATION
The existing Gosport Library is located in the High Street, Gosport.
ADJOINING LAND AND BUILDINGS
The building is positioned between the Town Hall and a Supermarket. To the north is the High Street with Gosport Museum and shops beyond. To the south are offices, South Street and beyond is a public car park and a boating pond.
AREA INCLUDING COMPARISON WITH LOCAL/NATIONAL STANDARDS
The total site area is 0.413 acres (0.167 hectares). There are no local / national standards for this type of site.
PLANNING POSITION
The work to the existing library has been classified as permitted development. A formal detailed Planning Application for the work at the Gosport Museum to create a Local studies Centre will be submitted during Spring 2004.
SUITABILITY FOR PROJECT
These proposals will enable the existing Library and Museum to be converted into a new Discovery Centre. Detailed research has been undertaken and it has been concluded that the existing Library and Museum premises are the most suitable for conversion as they both offer a central location already known to, and used by the public, good access via pedestrian areas and flexibility of space.
RESULTS OF TRIAL BORE HOLES
It has not been necessary to undertake a site investigation for these proposals as work consists of internal alterations.
ACCESS
The area surrounding the building is pedestrianised and the main entrance is positioned on the eastern elevation. There is currently no dedicated car park for the building and car users park in one of the public car park located nearby.
It is proposed to upgrade the access to the building by constructing a glazed entrance in place of the existing entrance. New art commissioned signage will lead visitors to the main entrance which will be further enhanced by new lighting.
The existing fire evacuation ramps to the northern and southern elevations of the building are currently too steep and will be modified and extended.
COMMENTS ON SITE LAYOUT
The building is positioned centrally on a compact site of just under half of an acre. There will be very minimal changes to the site layout as these works comprise mainly internal reorganisation and refurbishment of the existing building on site.
MAINS SERVICES POSITION
All mains services are considered to be of a sufficient capacity to be extended or adapted as required to serve the refurbished building.
MAINTENANCE IMPLICATIONS
The site will continue to be maintained in accordance with current County Council standards.
LANDSCAPE PROPOSALS
There are no landscape works to be undertaken as part of this project.
4. THE PROPOSED BUILDING/RATIONALISATION/CONVERSION
TYPE OF PROJECT, LAYOUT AND FACILITIES PROVIDED
DISCOVERY CENTRE
By way of internal reorganisation of the existing four storey building the new Discovery Centre could, subject to public consultation, offer the following accommodation and facilities:
Ground floor:
- glazed entrance
- open foyer with seating and art displays
- information / issue desk
- express service book stack
- retail area
- youth zone
- café
- servery
- People's Network area
- IT workstations
- self issue / help point
- reading and seating areas
- museum interventions
- accessible WC
- store
First and Mezzanine floor:
- children's zone (including IT workstations and dedicated seating areas)
- book stacks
- People's Network area
- reading and seating areas
- IT Suite
- museum exhibition area
- flexible performance space
- self issue / help point
- museum interventions
- male & female WCs
- stores
Second floor:
- reference library book stacks
- People's Network area
- two meeting rooms (with folding partition to enable flexible meeting spaces)
- Naval collection area
- reading and seating areas
- self issue / help point
- museum interventions
- stores
Third floor:
- Manager's office
- staff room
- meeting room
- Asian studies room
- Studios / work rooms
- accessible WC
- museum interventions
- plant room
- stores
The existing lift will be refurbished and a new lift car installed enabling access to all floors of the building. The stair cores will also be refurbished.
The building will be provided with complete new electrics including lighting and IT cabling.
Acoustic controls in the form of screens will be used throughout the building to provide separation between the different areas and functions of the building.
Induction loops will be provided to all of the meeting rooms.
LOCAL STUDIES CENTRE
It is proposed to refurbish part of the ground floor of Gosport Museum to provide a new Local Studies Centre. Work will include the creation of an Accessible WC and provision of power assisted doors to the main entrance.
The centre will accommodate local studies books, maps and reference materials and will offer the following facilities:
- reception and information point
- People's Network areas
- IT workstations
- reading and seating areas
- Geology display areas
- Accessible WC
- staff WC
PLACES PROVIDED
Current usage of the Library building is in the region of 400,000 visitors per year. The Discovery Centre is expected to significantly increase this number, particularly amongst currently under represented groups.
PRESENT/REDUNDANT BUILDINGS AND FUTURE USE
The existing building was constructed in 1973 and is considered to be in a fair condition. The current internal design is impractical and the complete internal reorganisation and refurbishment of the building will make better use of the available space.
TEMPORARY BUILDINGS
A planning application for the siting of three temporary buildings in the car park of Gosport Museum adjacent to the existing library, has been submitted to the Director of Environment. This course of action was agreed at the December 2003 meeting of the Executive Member Policy and Resources.
These temporary buildings, along with available accommodation in the adjacent Gosport Gallery, will provide sufficient capacity to accommodate part of the current library service for the duration of the proposed works.
Upon completion of the new Discovery Centre and Local Studies Centre the temporary buildings will be removed.
SITUATION ON SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There will be minimal change to the external appearance of the building as the works are mainly internal alterations. The existing trees to the northern and eastern elevation of the building will remain.
TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION, FINISH AND APPEARANCE
The existing building is part brick / part render and this will remain unaltered. The extended glazed entrance will replace the existing entrance to the eastern elevation of the building.
ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES
The refurbishment of the existing lift will enable the building to be totally accessible. Ramps to the eastern and southern elevation of the Discovery Centre will be extended and refurbished. Accessible WCs will be provided in both the Discovery Centre and Local Studies Centre and level access will be maintained throughout both buildings.
HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS
The existing gas fired boiler serving radiators will be upgraded and new heating controls will be installed. The building currently suffers from over heating and it is proposed to provide a new internal ventilation system in the form of extraction fans. These fans will be located on the third floor of the building and will vent through the roof. Mechanical ventilation will be provided to the servery and WCs along with mechanical cooling to the IT Suite.
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
This is not a new stand-alone building on a green field site and, in addition, an assessment concludes it to be a very low fire risk category building and therefore a sprinkler system will not be installed.
As part of these works it is proposed to install a new fire alarm system for the building. This `Red Care' system is directly linked to the local fire station which ensures immediate response to the site as soon as an alarm is sounded. A fire evacuation lift to serve each floor of the building will be installed.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BUILDING
The estimated annual energy consumption for the refurbished building will meet that required by current Building Regulations.
ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS OF PROVISION CONSIDERED
These proposals have been agreed by the Director of Recreation and Heritage as meeting the operational requirements of a Discovery Centre whilst providing first class facilities and service to the general public.
CAR PARKING
Two Accessible car parking spaces will be provided to the south west elevation of the building. Other car users will continue to use the surrounding public car parks.
CONSULTATIONS
The following have been consulted during the development of the project: Director of Recreation and Heritage, Environment Department, Access Officer, local County Councillor.
5. THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT
These proposals will provide totally accessible facilities to a wide range of people. The building will benefit from internal reordering and refurbishment to make better use of the available space.
6. BUILDING MANAGEMENT
CLEANING
Existing arrangements will apply.
CATERING
New arrangements will be entered into with a catering contractor for the management of the new café
7. FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
An allocation for furniture and equipment has been made in the current funding available for these proposals.
8. STAFFING
Operating arrangements are still being developed. It is anticipated that existing staffing levels will be sufficient to operate the Discovery Centre, however, extended opening hours will be a key feature and additional staff hours will be required to cover this. The projected cost of this is shown in Section 1 ( Revenue Implications). It is expected that these additional costs will have to be found from within the existing Recreation and Heritage Revenue budget.
9. FEES
Architectural Services }Property, Business and Regulatory Services
Quantity Surveying } Davis, Langdon and Everest
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering } Property, Business and Regulatory Services
Structural Engineering } Price and Myers