Hampshire County Council

Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel Item 6

24 March 2004

Calshot Activities Centre

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

How the conclusion in this report fits with the Corporate Strategy

The scheme to provide a new residential accommodation building at Calshot Activities Centre will impact on the delivery of all Corporate Aims, focusing most immediately on:

Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities: the proposal to provide new residential accommodation will have an immediate benefit for users of the Centre.

Aim 5 - improving services: all users of the proposed new facilities will benefit from these proposals.

1

Summary

1.1

At the November 2003 meeting of the Executive Member Recreation and Heritage approval was given to the development of a new residential accommodation building at Calshot Activities Centre. This decision will enable new facilities at the Centre to attract young people, adults and corporate clients. This action is the first step in a ten year development plan for the Centre which aims to raise the profile of the work undertaken at the Centre whilst offering modern and accessible facilities. These proposals also form part of the five year strategy for the Outdoor Service which aims to raise awareness of Hampshire's outdoor facilities and make them fully accessible to all.

1.2

The estimated cost of the work is £1,043,000, excluding fees. The funding will come from the 2004/05 Recreation and Heritage Capital Programme, a contribution from the Centre and from Service financed unsupported borrowing.

1.3

The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design of the proposed new residential accommodation building and the purpose of this report is to outline the design proposals and seek approval to the attached building design project appraisal.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

It is proposed to construct a two storey residential accommodation building on an area between Lawrence House (an existing dormitory building) and the dining building. The area was previously occupied by a workshop which was demolished in 1994, and is now a car park and open grassed area.

2.2

The new building will provide, on the ground floor, ten bedrooms, ten shower rooms, meeting area / foyer, lobby, drying rooms, cleaner's / linen store. The first floor accommodation will comprise ten further bedrooms and shower rooms, cleaner's / linen store and plant and water stores. Each bedroom can accommodate up to three people which enables up to a maximum of 60 users in this one building.

2.3

The ground floor of the building will be fully accessible and two of the bedrooms and shower rooms will be to wheelchair accessible standards. All thresholds will be level and ramps will be installed at the entrance / exit points to the northern and southern elevations of the building.

3.

Funding and Timing

3.1

Funding of £1,043,000, excluding fees, for these proposals will come from the following sources:

Recreation and Heritage 2004/05 Capital Programme 310,000

Calshot Activities Centre 310,000

Service financed unsupported borrowing 423,000

TOTAL 1,043,000

3.2

It is anticipated that tenders will be invited during June 2004. Work will commence on site during September 2004 with completion during April 2005.

3.3

The costs are based at 2Q04 and include for the normal project contingencies for construction. Further contingency provision, outside of the normal construction contingency, will be put in place by Recreation and Heritage through the proposed funding arrangements for the project, to cover potential inflationary increases and unforeseen risk at tender stage.

3.4

Consideration is currently being given by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, to the installation of a sprinkler system. At its meeting on 27 January 2004 the Buildings, Land and Contracts Panel agreed to put forward a revision to the current Sprinkler Policy of the County Council on the basis of adopting a risk assessment approach. This was agreed by the County Council on 25 February 2004. A detailed risk assessment now concludes that the risk to life is low, but the risk to the property is medium. On balance, it is recommended that a sprinkler system be included. Funding will now be identified to cover the cost of the sprinkler installation, which will be in addition to the current estimate in 3.1 above. This will be confirmed prior to a contract being let.

4.

Consultation with Local Member

4.1

Councillor L Dunsdon, local Member for this area, has been consulted on the proposals within this project appraisal.

Conclusion

These proposals will provide a purpose designed residential building at Calshot Activities Centre with modern facilities.

Recommendation

That the Buildings Land and Procurement Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the design project appraisal be approved.