Archived decisions

    Hampshire County Council

    Executive Member - Education Item

    9 December 2004

    Whitchurch CE (C) Primary School

    Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

      How the conclusion in this report fits with the Corporate Strategy

      This scheme will impact on the delivery of all Corporate Aims, focusing most immediately on:

      Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities
      : the proposal to provide two new classrooms and an ICT suite will have an immediate benefit for the school.

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

    1

    Summary

    1.1

    Whitchurch C E (C) Primary School is located at Daniel Road, Whitchurch. The school comprises a mix of traditional and SCOLA system buildings, originating from the early 1970s with various extensions being made, including a classroom extension in 2000 and a front porch and canopy in 2002. There are currently 333 pupils (4-11 years) on roll.

    1.2

    The total estimated cost of the scheme to provide 60 Basic Need places is £498,000, excluding fees. An allocation of £431,000, excluding fees has been made in the Education Capital Programme 2005/06. Approval to bring forward this funding to the 2004/05 financial year was given by the Executive Member for Education on 14 October 2004. This will enable a contract to be let this financial year to meet the current programme. The school is contributing a sum of £67,000, excluding fees, towards the cost of the overall scheme.

    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.

    2

    Scope of the Works

    2.1

    It will be necessary to form a temporary access on the adjoining land to the south of the school site to provide a contractor's access and compound.

    2.2

    It is proposed to construct an extension to the existing primary school at the southeast end of the school site. The new accommodation will provide two reception classrooms, an Information Computer Technology (ICT) suite with an extended corridor to serve the new classrooms, and external hard play areas. The existing caretaker's store will be demolished and replaced at one end of the new corridor, with a new external ramp providing access to the reception classrooms from the existing playground. A temporary classroom will be removed from site upon completion of the works.

    3

    Funding and Timing

    3.1

    An allocation of £431,000, excluding fees, now exists in the Education Capital Programme 2004/05. The school is contributing a sum of £67,000, excluding fees, towards the cost of the overall scheme.

    3.2

    Subject to the necessary approvals it is anticipated that tenders will be invited during January 2005, work will commence on site during March 2005 and be completed during September 2005.

    4

    Consultation with Local Member

    4.1

    Councillor John Wall, the local Member for this area, has been consulted on this scheme. He welcomes the scheme as set out and is very pleased that it was possible to bring the scheme back into the current year capital projects list.

    Conclusion

    The proposed scheme to construct two reception classrooms, an ICT suite, an extended corridor to serve the new classrooms, and external hard play areas will provide 60 Basic Need places

    Recommendation

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

      Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

      The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

      NB the list excludes:

      1 Published works

      2 Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

        Title Location

        Architect's plans PMIS file

        Building Profile Reports TMH

      Hampshire County Council

    Building Design Project Appraisal

      Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel

      30 November 2004

      Executive Member - Policy and Resources

      9 December 2004

      Executive Member - Education

      9 December 2004

    Project:

    Whitchurch Primary School

    Extension to provide two classrooms, ICT suite and corridor

    Commencement date:

    March 2005

    Completion date:

    September 2005

    Planned year of start in accordance with Capital Programme:

    2004/05

      Recommendation:

      That the building design project appraisal for the Whitchurch Primary School scheme be approved.

      1 Finance

    Capital Expenditure

    Current Estimate

    £'000

    Capital Programme

    £'000

    Buildings

    498

    431

    Fees

    73

    69

    Land to be purchased

    _

    _

    Total

    *581

    500

      * The means by which the difference between the Current Estimate and the Capital Programme

        allocation is to be met is shown in the table below.

    Financial Provision for Total Scheme

    Buildings

    £'000

    Fees

    £'000

    Total cost

    £'000

    1 From own Resources:

    a) Capital Programme (as above)

    431

    69

    500

    b) School

    67

    3

    70

    Total

    498

    72

    570

Building Cost - Net Cost = £ 1,450 per m2

      - Gross Cost = £ 1,788 per m2

Devolved Capital allocations £'000

            Bal to 31/03/04 48,600

            2004/05 29,500

          2005/06 29,900

        Total 108,000

Landlord funded work connected with this scheme

There are no landlord funded works associated with this scheme.

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. Part of the development site is vested in Trustees.

      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

    26

    32

    Unit cost (£)

    (e.g. per place)

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    % variation to

    Committee's

    budget

    -

    -

    Number of

    additional

    Staff (fte)

    -

    -

      Energy costs

      The estimated annual energy consumption for the new accommodation will meet that required by current Building Regulations. It is anticipated that the increase in fuel cost for the school will be in the order of £4.95 for each m² of new accommodation.

      2 Details of site and existing infrastructure

        Location/adjoining land and buildings

        Whitchurch Primary School is located at Daniel Road, Whitchurch. The school site is irregularly shaped, with the school buildings clustered in the southeast corner. The site is bounded by the River Test to the north, with housing beyond, by housing to the southwest and by open space on other boundaries.

        Area including comparison with local/national standards

        The total site area is 6.98 acres (2.82 hectares). The DfES guideline for a school of this size is 4.01 - 4.54 acres (1.62 - 1.84 hectares). The Land and Property Review has identified this school site for further investigation to identify potentially surplus areas and alternative uses. This investigation will not affect the development site proposed.

        Access

        Pedestrian and vehicular access to the school site is from McFauld Way/Daniel Road. A temporary access will be formed on the adjoining Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council land to the south of the school site to provide a separate contractor's access, haul road and compound for the duration of the works.

        Existing buildings and temporary buildings

        The existing school buildings consist of a mix of traditional and SCOLA construction dating from the 1970s. A classroom extension was added in 2000 and a new front porch/canopy in 2002. The buildings are considered to be in good condition for their age and type. It will be necessary to demolish the existing caretaker's store located adjacent the existing entrance and this will be relocated within the new building.

        There is currently a double temporary classroom on site which will be removed on completion of the works.

        Results of trial boreholes

        A site specific ground investigation has not yet been carried out for this project.  However a summary of an investigation carried out previously on the school site indicates the ground conditions to consist of topsoil overlying River and Valley Gravels over chalk.  It is therefore likely that ground bearing floor slabs and spread foundations would be suitable for the proposed development, although this will need to be confirmed by a site specific ground investigation.

        Mains services position

        The existing mains services are considered to be of sufficient capacity to be extended and adapted as required to serve the proposed additional accommodation.

      3 Scope of the Project

        Type of project, layout and facilities provided

        An extension to the southeast end of the school site will provide:

          · 2 classrooms with wet areas

          · 2 wc's

          · storage area

          · ICT room

          · caretaker's store

          · extended corridor

          · external play area (part covered)

        Doors from the two new classrooms will open onto the secure external play area to the east. A ramp will link this area to the existing playground to the west of the new building, thus allowing parents to collect and deliver children direct from the reception classrooms.

        Places provided

        On completion of the project the school will provide 420 places. The extension of the school reflects a growth of pupil numbers from within the schools catchment area.

      4 The Proposed Building

        Type of construction, finish and appearance

        The extension will be located at the southeast end of the site within the existing grass bank. It will be necessary to construct new retaining walls to form a new external hard play and seating area for the two new reception classrooms.

        The classrooms have been designed with brickwork walls to complement the existing buildings onsite with high-performance roof with lead clad rooflights. The extended corridor and ICT suite will have render walls with a high-performance roof. All new windows are designed to match the existing.

        Accessible facilities

        The extension has been designed with level access throughout. A ramp will link the existing playground to the new secure areas adjoining the new reception classrooms.

        Heating and ventilation systems

        A low pressure heating system with low surface temperature radiators will heat the classrooms and corridor. A heat pump comfort cooling system will be used to provide heating and cooling to the IT suite.

        The classrooms will be naturally ventilated by opening windows. The toilets will have extract fans controlled by local infrared presence detectors.

        Fire risk assessment

        In consultation with the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, a fire risk assessment concludes that this is a low fire risk category building. Therefore a sprinkler system will not be installed.

        Health and safety

        A designer's risk assessment and a design health and safety plan, in accordance with Regulation 15 of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 1994, have been undertaken for the proposed scheme

      5 External Works

        Car parking

        There will be no changes to the existing car parking arrangements.

        Landscape proposals

        Information awaited

        Situation on site and environmental impact

        The proposed extension is located to the southeast of the existing school buildings and is surrounded by a banked area with tree and shrub planting. The extension has been carefully designed to enhance and complement the existing school.

      6 Planning

        A formal detailed planning application will be submitted to the Director of Environment during November 2004.

      7 Building management

        Existing arrangements will apply to cleaning, catering, local management and maintenance arrangements.

      8 Furniture and equipment

        The furniture and equipment will be separately funded from the School's devolved capital allocation.

      9 Professional resources

        Architectural Services } Format Milton Architects

        Quantity Surveying } John Watson & Carter

        Electrical and Mechanical Engineering } White Young & Green

        Structural Engineering } WSP

      10 Consultations

        The following have been consulted during the development of the project: Headteacher and Governors of the school, County Education Officer, Environment Department, Access Officer, local County Councillor.