Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) 10 December 2007 Freegrounds Infant School, Hedge End Report of the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

Contact: Steve Clow Ext: 7858 e-mail: [email protected]

1	Summary
1.1	Freegrounds Infant School is located at Hobb Lane, a residential area of Hedge End, on a shared site with the Junior School. The school capacity is for 270 pupils (aged 4-6 years) and there are currently 256 children on roll.
1.2	In order to meet current curriculum standards, it is now proposed to replace an existing double temporary classroom with a purpose-built, single-storey extension and further enhance accommodation at the school.
1.3	The Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design of the proposed scheme at Freegrounds Infant School and the purpose of this report is to outline the design proposals and seek approval to the attached design project appraisal.
1.4	The proposed scheme will maximise wellbeing and enhance the quality of place for all users of the school.
2	Recommendation
	That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) approves the design project appraisal for the scheme at Freegrounds Infant School, at an estimated total cost of £628,000, excluding fees.
3	Scope of the Works
3.1	The proposed extension, together with associated internal reconfiguration and refurbishment works, will provide one new classroom space, relocated reception and administration accommodation, reconfigured library space and new toilet facilities.
3.2	Externally, level access is achieved by means of a ramp to the main entrance lobby. An accessible parking space is provided in the parking area nearest to the visitor entrance.
4	Funding and Timing
4.1	An allocation of £515,000, excluding fees, has been made in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2007/08. The School is making a contribution of £113,000, excluding fees.
4.1	Subject to the necessary approvals it is anticipated that tenders will be invited during January 2008, work will commence on site during March 2008 and be completed during September 2008. This programme may be affected by the extent of asbestos removal works from the existing building, which will not be known until the final invasive survey work is undertaken.
5	Consultation with Local Member
5.1	Councillor Derek Blampied, the local Member for this area, has been consulted on the proposals within this report and he has confirmed that he is fully supportive of the scheme.
Conclusion
This scheme will provide a purpose-built extension, which together with refurbishment and internal reconfiguration works, will 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)

10 December 2007

Project:	Freegrounds Infant School, Hedge End
	Extension to replace temporary classroom
Commencement date:	March 2008
Completion date:	September 2008
Planned year of start in accordance with Capital Programme:		2007/08

Recommendation:

That the building design project appraisal for the Freegrounds Infant School

scheme be approved.

1 Finance

Capital Expenditure	Current Estimate £'000	Capital Programme £'000
Buildings	628	515
Fees	92	85
Land to be purchased	_	_
Total	*720	600

* 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)	515	85	600
b) School	113	7	120
Total	628	92	720

Building Cost - Net Cost = £2,038 per m²

- Gross Cost = £2,921 per m²

Devolved Capital allocations £'000

2004/05 25

2005/06 25

2006/07 32

2007/08 35

Total 117

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	-	-	-	40	40
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 £2,267 per annum (£5 for each m² of new accommodation). The additional CO² consumption will be 18.6 tonnes per year.

2 Details of site and existing infrastructure

Location/adjoining land and buildings

The school is located on a shared site with the Junior School, in a residential area of Hedge End. The campus is surrounded by housing on all boundaries.

Area including comparison with local/national standards

The Infant School site is shared with the Junior School. The overall site area is 8.55 acres (3.41 hectares). The DfES guideline for a school of this size is 1.85 acres (0.74 hectares).

Access

Both schools are accessed from Hobb Lane, which connects to Lower Northern Road.

Existing buildings and temporary buildings

The main school building is of SCOLA construction clad with brick. A classroom extension with white panel finish was added in 1999. There is currently one double temporary classroom on site which will be removed on completion of the scheme.

Results of trial boreholes

A previous soil survey indicated that the site has a high clay content and combined with neighbouring semi-mature/mature oak trees, substantial foundations will be required as part of the design. Additional to this, the terrain of the site means that the floor levels of the new extension will be substantially higher than the existing ground levels, which will involve backfilling and additional access ramps to the entrance. It is anticipated that the building will of steel-frame construction with beam and block floor.

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

The proposed extension/refurbishment/reconfiguration scheme will provide the following accommodation:


· 3 classrooms (currently 2 + double temporary)

· relocated library area (formed in existing reception area)

· relocated admin/reception area


Places provided

No additional places are provided as a result of this scheme.

4 The Proposed Building

Type of construction, finish and appearance

The proposed extension will be of steel-frame construction with brick and block infills, low-pitch roof with high-performance covering and aluminium windows and doors, all designed to be sympathetic with the existing buildings. .

Impact Assessment

A ramped access will be provided to the main visitor entrance with an accessible parking bay close by.

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 existing heating system will be extended using low-surface heat radiators. Ventilation will be natural, by opening windows.

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

For the duration of the works, the contractor's compound will be located on the existing 16 place visitor car park. Visitor parking will be temporarily relocated. No increase to the existing parking provision will be made in the long-term as the scheme will not affect the existing staff/pupil presence.

Landscape proposals

Associated paving and planting around the access ramps will be carried out as part of the works.

Situation on site and environmental impact

The County Ecologist has confirmed that the existing SCOLA building and extension is of a low potential for bats and that therefore a bat survey is not considered necessary. Four large oak trees and the existing belt of trees are considered to be adequately protected from the building works. Two trees are to be removed to facilitate the extension footprint.

6 Planning

A detailed planning application was submitted during September 2007.

7 Building management

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

8 Furniture and equipment

A separate allocation will be made by the Children's Services Department for furniture, fixtures and equipment.

9 Professional resources

Architectural Services } Property, Business and Regulatory Quantity Surveying } Grant Associates

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering } Gary Jones Associates

Structural Engineering } R J Watkinson

10 Consultations

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