Archived decisions

    Hampshire County Council

    Executive Member - Education Item

    23 March 2006

    Micheldever CE Primary School, Micheldever

    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 a hall and classroom extension 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

    Micheldever Church of England Primary School is a small rural village school, situated in the centre of Micheldever. There are currently 82 pupils (aged 4-11 years) on roll. The school is a Voluntary Controlled Primary School.

    1.2

    The original school building is of traditional brick and flint Victorian construction. There are currently two temporary buildings (housing three classrooms), in poor condition, and the school has an undersized hall and other shortcomings when compared to current benchmark standards.

    1.3

    It is now proposed to replace the temporary buildings with three purpose-built classrooms and a new hall. Unsightly kitchen and boiler room extensions will be demolished and replaced and a new library/resource and group room provided.

    1.4

    The total estimated cost of the scheme is £1,815,000, excluding fees, and this investment will transform the quality of the buildings and facilities at this small village school.

    1.5

    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

    The proposed new accommodation will form a courtyard around two existing yew trees, with a new entrance hall and reception linking the new-build to the existing main school building.

    2.2

    The accommodation will provide three new classrooms, a new hall, library/resource and group room. The existing school hall will be remodelled as the reception classroom, kitchen/servery and plant rooms.

    2.3

    The scheme has been carefully designed to conserve and enhance the original school building (which is a Grade II Listed Building) and to site the new accommodation to provide a satisfactory relationship between old and new, whilst providing appropriate external spaces.

    2.4

    The two existing yew trees will be protected before commencement of building works to ensure their continued health.

    3

    Acquisition of Property Interests

    3.1

    The development proposals envisage providing a permanent foul drainage connection to a nearby private sewerage treatment works owned by Winchester City Council. The pipe will cross third party land. Agreement, in principle, has been reached with the two landowners and detailed negotiations are in hand. If unsuccessful, drainage tanks will be installed within the existing school site.

    3.2

    It is also proposed to create a small temporary playing field area for the duration of the works on adjoining third party land. Agreement, in principle, has been reached with the landowner and detailed negotiations are in hand.

    4

    Funding and Timing

    4.1

    The project will be funded as follows (all figures shown exclude fees):

                        £

    Capital Programme (NDS Modernisation) 05/06

    (agreement sought to carry this forward into the

    2006/07 Capital Programme) 1,241

    Capital Programme (Primary Halls Block Vote) 362

    School - devolved capital/fundraising 132

    NDS Condition Funding 40

    Policy and Resources Capital Repairs budget 40

                        1,815

    4.2

    Due to limitations imposed by the tight site area, it is proposed to carry out the work in two stages:

      · new-build (July 06-July 07)

      · refurbishment of existing building (July 07-October 07)

    4.3

    Subject to the necessary approvals it is anticipated that tenders will be invited during April 2006, work will commence on site during July 2006 and be completed during October 2007.

    5

    Consultation with Local Member

    5.1

    Councillor Jacqueline Porter, the local Member for this area, has been consulted on these proposals.

    Conclusion

    The proposed scheme will provide three purpose-built classrooms, a new hall and a new library/resource and group room, thus facilitating the removal from site of two temporary buildings and some outbuildings, all in very poor condition.

    Recommendations

    1 That the Executive Member for Education advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that approval be given to carry forward the Capital Programme 2005/06 funding to the 2006/07 Capital Programme.

    2 That the Executive Member for Education advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the design project appraisal for the scheme at the Micheldever CE Primary School at an estimated cost of £1,815,000, excluding fees, 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

      Executive Member - Education

      23 March 2006

      Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel

      4 April 2006

      Executive Member - Policy and Resources

      6 April 2006

    Project:

    Micheldever CE Primary School, Micheldever

    Hall and Classroom extension

    Commencement date:

    June 2006

    Completion date:

    October 2007

    Planned year of start in accordance with Capital Programme:

    2006/07

      Recommendation:

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

      1 Finance

    Capital Expenditure

    Current Estimate

    (at Nov 2004 prices)

    £'000

    Capital Programme

    ( at Nov 2004 prices)

    £'000

    Buildings

    1,815

    1,603

    Fees

    267

    244

    Land to be purchased

    _

    _

    Total

    *2,082

    1,847

      * 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 (NDS Modernisation)

    1,241

    186

    1,427

    b) Capital Programme (Primary Halls Block Vote)

    362

    58

    420

    c) School - devolved capital/fundraising

    132

    13

    145

    d) Policy and Resources Capital Repairs budget

    40

    5

    45

    e) NDS Condition Funding

    40

    5

    45

    Total

    1,815

    267

    2,082

Building Cost - Net Cost (excluding abnormals) = £1,692 per m2

    Due to the extensive nature of the alterations it is not appropriate to give a gross cost

Devolved Capital allocations £'000

                2005/06 18

            2006/07 22

          2007/08 24

        Total 64

Landlord funded work connected with this scheme

A P&R contribution of £40,000, excluding fees, is being made towards the cost of boiler replacement and drainage works.

Value of land already acquired for this project

      The whole of this site is owned by Diocesan Trustees and not the County Council.

      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

    4

    4

    112

    116

    Unit cost (£)

    (e.g. per place)

    -

    -

    -

    -

    -

    % variation to

    Committee's

    budget

    -

    -

    Number of

    additional

    Staff (fte)

    -

    -

      * The overall level of the revenue budget for funding schools will (from April 2006) be prescribed by central government, and capital projects have no bearing on the level of this budget. Therefore, this proposed project will have no bearing on the overall level of the Children's Services budget, extra costs and savings being met from the same overall schools' funding level.

      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 £2,484 per annum (£7.90 for each m² of new accommodation). The additional CO² consumption will be 21.8 tonnes per year

      2 Details of site and existing infrastructure

        Location/adjoining land and buildings

        The school is located within the heart of the village and is surrounded by private housing.

        Area including comparison with local/national standards

        The total site area is 0.75 acres (0.304 hectares). The DfES guideline for a school of this size is 1.69 acres (0.685 hectares).

        Access

        The main vehicular and pedestrian accesses are from Church Street. It is proposed that the contractor will use the main vehicular access for the duration of the works.

        Once within the school boundaries, pupils and staff will be clearly separated from construction traffic and activities. Deliveries and movement of plant will be restricted during the school day to ensure the safety of all those involved.

        Existing buildings and temporary buildings

        The main school building is of traditional brick and flint construction, dating from 1870. There are currently two temporary buildings on site which are in very poor condition and will be removed as part of the scheme. There are some semi-derelict brick sheds and outbuildings which will be demolished. Existing above-ground fuel tanks will be replaced with underground storage tanks.

        Results of trial boreholes

        The soils on this site comprise topsoil overlying gravely clay in turn overlying chalk.

        Conventional trench fill foundations are considered appropriate, but will need to be much deeper than normal in some areas to allow for the effects of the adjacent trees.

        Ground floor slabs will be suspended beam and block.

        Mains services position

        It is proposed to run a foul drain sewer via adjoining private land to a nearby existing sewage treatment plant owned by Winchester City Council. These negotiations are currently ongoing and if this option is not agreed, it will be necessary to install underground drainage tanks on the school site. Sufficient contingency has been included in the costs to cover either option at this stage.

        A new electrical supply is required and gas supply will be from underground LPG tanks.

      3 Scope of the Project

        Type of project, layout and facilities provided

        The proposed scheme will provide the following new accommodation:

          · hall

          · 3 classrooms

          · storage areas

          · staff and pupil wcs

          · library/resource room

          · group room

          · kitchen, to include servery and wc

          · plant room

          · entrance hall - link to existing main building

        The existing building will be adapted and refurbished to provide the following accommodation:

          · reception classroom

          · quiet room

          · head teacher's office

          · medical/interview room

          · staff room/office

          · staff/pupil wcs

          · storage area

        Places provided

        90 replacement places.

      4 The Proposed Building

        Type of construction, finish and appearance

        New-build construction will be of traditional masonry with red brick walls, pitched roofs will have plain clay tiles and other roofs over circulation areas will have a high-performance covering. Windows, doors and glazed screens will be of painted timber. All to complement the existing Grade II listed building.

        Accessible facilities

        The scheme has been designed with level/ramped access throughout.

        One accessible wc will be provided as part of this scheme.

        Heating and ventilation systems

        Gas (LPG) fire condensing boilers serving under floor heating will heat the new and existing building.

        Ventilation generally will be by natural means, with mechanical extract ventilation only where required.

        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 change to the existing parking arrangements.

        Landscape proposals

        It is proposed to reorganise the landscape layout by moving the existing adventure play area and reinstating the tarmac area on which the temporary buildings are currently located to create a suitable area of usable games and play space.

        The internal courtyard area will be reorganised around the retained mature yew trees to create an outdoor teaching and story-telling space, whilst a dedicated early years area will be created at a lower level. The access will be widened and set at a gradient. The connections between spaces will be linked using pergola structures. There will also be a rationalisation of vehicular and pedestrian access to the front and side of the school.

        Situation on site and environmental impact

        This scheme incorporates the removal of some unsightly extensions made over the years to the rear of the building and also the temporary buildings located to the rear of the site, which have reached the end of their useful life. The scheme aims to conserve and enhance the original Victorian school building and the new accommodation has been designed to be sympathetic in manner.

        The two yew trees will be protected throughout the works to ensure their safety and long-term future.

        Evidence of bats has been found on site and a licence will be applied for and any necessary actions taken to ensure compliance with all statutory requirements. This has been built into the programme.

      6 Planning

        Planning approval was granted in February 2006.

      7 Building management

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

      8 Furniture and equipment

        To be funded from the Children's Services Capital Programme Block Vote for Furniture and Equipment.

      9 Professional resources

        Architectural Services } Format Milton Architects

        Quantity Surveying } Davis Langdon & Everest

        Electrical and Mechanical Engineering } Giffords

        Structural Engineering } R J Watkinson

      10 Consultations

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