Archived decisions

    Hampshire County Council

    Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education)

    17 July 2007

    Hale Primary School, Hale, Fordingbridge

    Report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

    1

    Summary

    1.1

    Hale Primary School is a small rural school located in the New Forest. The school roll is capacity is 89 and there are currently 91 pupils (aged 4-10 years) in attendance.

    1.2

    The teaching accommodation is currently housed in three separate buildings: the original main school, the school house and a double temporary classroom which is in very poor condition and is at the end of its life. The school has many shortcomings: a classroom shared with a library space, no staff room or work room, no reception/waiting area and a headteacher's office accessed via the administration office.

    1.3

    The school is struggling to deliver the national curriculum within the present fragmented environment and it is therefore intended to extend the school and amalgamate the facilities in one building. This will enable the removal from site of the temporary building, on completion of the scheme.

    1.4

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

    1.5

    The proposed scheme will maximise wellbeing and enhance the quality of place for all users of the school by providing a purpose-built teaching facilities.

    2

    Recommendation

    2.1

    That the Executive Lead Member approves the design project appraisal for Hale Primary School, at an estimated cost of £615,000, excluding fees.

    3

    Scope of the Works

    3.1

    Due to the very tight nature of the site and the need to retain the temporary classroom during the construction period, the proposed extension will be located to the rear of the main school building, thus retaining the main frontage of the school house.

    3.2

    The proposed extension will provide three teaching spaces to the rear of the existing school building, with a link corridor connecting the new-build to the existing.

    3.3

    The old school house is to be refurbished to provide first floor staff administration areas and ground floor SEN/group spaces.

    3.4

    On completion of the works, the existing play area and associated paving and paths will be reinstated.

    4

    Funding and Timing

    4.1

    An allocation of £548,000, excluding fees, has been made in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2007/08 and the school is making a contribution of £67,000, excluding fees.

    4.2

    Subject to the necessary approvals it is anticipated that tenders will be invited during July 2007, work will commence on site during October 2007 and be completed during April 2008.

    5

    Consultation with Local Member

    5.1

    Councillor Katherine Heron, the local Member for this area, has been consulted on the proposals within the report.

    Conclusion

    The proposed extension will amalgamate the school in one building and facilitate the removal from site of a double temporary classroom.

    LINK(S) TO CORPORATE STRATEGY

    Yes

    No

    Hampshire safer and more secure for all

    _

    Maximising well-being

    _

    Enhancing our quality of place

    _

    This proposal does not link to the Corporate Strategy but, nevertheless, requires a decision because:

      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 Lead Member for Children's Services (Education)

      17 July 2007

    Project:

    Hale Primary School, Fordingbridge

    Classroom extension and internal refurbishment

    Commencement date:

    October 2007

    Completion date:

    April 2008

    Planned year of start in accordance with Capital Programme:

    2007/08

      Recommendation:

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

      1 Finance

    Capital Expenditure

    Current Estimate

    £'000

    Capital Programme

    £'000

    Buildings

    615

    548

    Fees

    85

    82

    Land to be purchased

    _

    _

    Total

    *700

    630

      * 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)

    548

    82

    630

    b) School

    67

    3

    70

    Total

    615

    85

    700

Building Cost - Net Cost = £ 1,855 per m2 excluding abnormals

      - Gross Cost = £ 2,639 per m2

Devolved Capital allocations £'000

                2004/05 17

            2005/06 18

            2006/07 22

          2007/08 24

        Total 81

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.

      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

    -

    -

    -

    37

    37

    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 £881 per year (£5.80 for each m² of new accommodation). The additional CO² consumption will be 5.5 tonnes per year.

      2 Details of site and existing infrastructure

        Location/adjoining land and buildings

        The school is located in the village of Hale, opposite the village green. The village hall lies to the southeast, with open land and some housing on other boundaries.

        Area including comparison with local/national standards

        The total site area is 0.441 acres (0.178 hectares). The DfES guideline for a school of this size is 1.44 acres (0.58 hectares).

        Access

        There will be no change to the existing school access. However, a separate temporary vehicular and pedestrian accesses will be formed for the duration of the construction 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

        Once completed, the proposal will facilitate the removal from site of an existing temporary classroom which is in poor condition. There are no other temporary buildings on the site. A temporary storage container will be on site to house school equipment for the duration of the contract.

        Results of trial boreholes

        A soil investigation revealed terrace gravel overlying sand and trench fill foundations with a ground bearing slab are therefore recommended for this scheme.

        Mains services position

        The gas, electricity and water mains will all require upgrading.

      3 Scope of the Project

        Type of project, layout and facilities provided

        The proposed extension will replace an existing double temporary classroom. The extension will also enable the alteration of existing accommodation and the following will be created:

          · 3 new classroom spaces

          · Link corridor with coats areas

          · Accessible wc

          · Library

          · Staff room and separate staff work room

          · Waiting area and reception desk

          · Reprographics room

          · Head teacher's office (with independent access)

          · New separate boiler room

        Places provided

        The scheme will provide 60 replacement places.

      4 The Proposed Building

        Type of construction, finish and appearance

        The extension will be of traditional construction with facing brick walls and pitched roof with natural plain clay roof tiles, all to complement the existing Victorian buildings. The elevation to the forest will be clad in timber, sympathetic to its rural setting. Window and door frames on the new building will be aluminium powder-coated for low maintenance.

        Impact Assessment

        The extension has been designed with level thresholds throughout.

        Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in the development of this proposal. No adverse impact has been identified in terms of race, creed or gender.

        Heating and ventilation systems

        The proposed new extension will have underfloor heating and natural ventilation by means of opening windows. Existing areas will continue to be heated by radiators.

        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 the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007, have been undertaken for the proposed scheme.

      5 External Works

        Car parking

        No change to existing provision. The school use the car park associated with Hale Village Hall.

        Landscape proposals

        The existing play area and associated paving and paths will be reinstated on completion of the project. The existing soft landscape on the site will remain unaffected by the proposals.

        Situation on site and environmental impact

        The location of the proposed extension to the rear of the existing buildings retains the main frontage of the school house and respects the existing character of the buildings onto the village green. The extension is scarcely visible from the village green, save for the projecting canopy of the new entrance.

        All materials have been chosen to complement the existing school building.

      6 Planning

        A detailed planning application was submitted during May 2007.

      7 Building management

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

      8 Furniture and equipment

        From Children's Services Block Vote allocation.

      9 Professional resources

        Architectural Services } Property, Business and Regulatory

        Quantity Surveying } Selway Joyce

        Electrical and Mechanical Engineering } Property, Business and Regulatory

        Structural Engineering } Property, Business and Regulatory

      10 Consultations

        The following have been consulted during the development of the project: Headteacher and Governors of the school, Children's Services Department, , New Forest National Parks Authority, Fire Officer, Access Officer, local County Councillor.