Hampshire County Council Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel 2 April 2008 Elvetham Heath Primary School, Fleet Report of the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

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

1	Summary
1.1	Elvetham Heath Primary School is a two-form entry school, located in a residential area to the north of Fleet.
1.2	The school's net capacity is 420 with a current number on roll of 428 children (4-11 years). As a result of the development of new homes at Elvetham Heath and the increased demand for primary school places, it is now proposed to extend the building to provide capacity for up to 630 pupils.
1.3	The Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design of the proposed scheme at Elvetham Heath Primary 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	Recommendations
2.1 (a)	That the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel advise the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that: The design project appraisal for the scheme at Elvetham Heath Primary School at an estimated total cost of £3,031,000, excluding fees be approved.
(b)	The existing commission for the design/development of the project with Mansell Construction be extended to a value of up to £250,000, in order to keep the project on target to meet the programme completion date in April 2009.
3	Scope of the Works
3.1	The proposed extension will be located to the south west of the main school building and will provide six classrooms, ICT room, hall, music/drama room, tutorial room, office and other associated ancillary accommodation. The existing building will also have some minor alterations to provide an enlarged staff room, a dedicated staff work room, an enlarged office and the conversion of the existing ICT room into a classroom.
3.2	The current site is at capacity accommodating the existing 2FE school. To the south west of the site lies the village green, an open landscaped area including community playing fields, tennis courts and children's play area. It is essential that a piece of this land is leased by Hampshire County Council in order to provide sufficient space to extend the school to 3FE At the meeting on 28 January 2008, the Executive Member for Policy and Resources gave approval for the acting Director of Property Business and Regulatory to negotiate a lease of 0.47 ha of this land to facilitate the required extension, with use of an additional 0.35 ha of land which is to be retained as Public Open Space. An in principle agreement has now been reached with the freehold and leasehold owners and a junior-sized football pitch will be provided on the land, for use by the school during school hours and as public open space at all other times.
4	Funding and Timing
4.1	An allocation of £3,031,000 has been made in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2008/09.
4.2	Subject to the necessary approvals it is anticipated that work will commence on site during July 2008 and be completed during April 2009.
4.3	The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 13 March 2008 considered the "Major Projects Status" report and endorsed the action taken by the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services on the Elvetham Heath Primary School project to ensure progress remained in line with the Target Programme. This included an order for pre-construction detailed design work to the appointed Framework Contractor in advance of the approval of the Project Appraisal by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources.
5	Consultation with Local Member
5.1	Councillor Sharyn Wheale, the local Member, has been consulted on this design project appraisal and wholeheartedly supports the proposals.
Conclusion
The proposed extension will provide additional pupil places to meet an increased demand in the area. External works will include the provision of a junior-sized football pitch and other hard and soft play areas.

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 Draft

Building Design Project Appraisal

Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel

2 April 2008

Executive Member for Policy and Resources

9 April 2008

Project:	Elvetham Heath Primary School, Fleet
	One-form entry extension with minor alterations to the existing building.
Commencement date:	July 2008
Completion date:	April 2009
Planned year of start in accordance with Capital Programme:		2008/09

Recommendation:

That the building design project appraisal for the Elvetham Heath Primary School

scheme be approved.

1 Finance

Capital Expenditure	Current Estimate £'000	Capital Programme £'000
Buildings	3,031	3,031
Furniture & Equipment	-	-
Fees	500	500
Land to be purchased	_	* The cost of the land to be acquired is from a separate budget for land purchase within the Children's Services Capital Programme. The land acquisition costs were approved by Executive Member, P&R on 28 January 2008 and amount to: Land Acquisition - £327,000 S106 Planning Contribution - £165,000 _
Total	3,531	3,531

Financial Provision for Total Scheme	Buildings and fittings £'000	Fees £'000	Total cost £'000
1 From own Resources:
a) Capital Programme (as above)	3,031	500	3,531
Total	3,031	500	3,531

Building Cost - Net Cost = £2,422 per m²

- Gross Cost = £ 3,259per m²

Devolved Capital allocations

As at 12 March 2008, the school has a devolved capital balance of £43,000.

Furniture and Equipment - £100,000 to be funded from the Executive Lead Member (Children's Services) Block Vote.

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 existing school site is not large enough to achieve the building extension. An additional 0.47ha of adjoining land is being acquired and this was approved by the Exec. Member, P&R on 28 January 2008.

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	-	-	-	-	-
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 £5,686 per year or £5.20 m2 of each m2 of new accommodation. (42 tonnes of CO2).

2 Details of site and existing infrastructure

Location/adjoining land and buildings

Elvetham Heath Primary School is located on the Elvetham Heath development, which is a residential area to the north of Fleet. The existing school site is triangular in shape and is bounded to the south by the village green, to the east by residential development and to the northwest by a public car park.

Area including comparison with local/national standards

The total existing site area is (1.6 hectares). The total proposed site area, including the public open space land is 2.4 hectares. The DCSF guideline for a school of this size is (2.8 hectares).

Access

The existing main vehicular and pedestrian access to the site is from The Key. This will remain unchanged.

It is proposed to provide an additional pedestrian access to the northwestern boundary in the location of the current site maintenance access. This will be a gated access and will also provide access for emergency vehicles.

For the duration of the works, the contractor will access the site via the proposed emergency vehicle access route. 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 original school building was completed in September 2004. There is a double temporary building and one single temporary building located within the existing staff car park which will be removed on completion of the proposed scheme.

Results of trial boreholes

A previous site investigation showed sandy subsoil and therefore there are no onerous design considerations are to be adopted. It is proposed to use a shallow strip foundation with ground-bearing slab.

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 will provide the following accommodation:


· 6 classrooms

· hall

· relocated ICT suite

· relocated music/drama room

· administration office

· toilets to include one accessible wc

The proposed internal alterations will provide the following accommodation:

· 1 classroom located in the existing ICT suite inc. cloaks space

· enlarged staffroom located in the existing music /drama room

· staff work room located in the existing staff room

· enlarged glazing to existing head teacher's office

External works will include the provision of:

· junior-sized football pitch

· netball court

· hard and soft play areas

Places provided

On completion of the scheme the school will have capacity for up to 630 pupils.

4 The Proposed Building

Type of construction, finish and appearance

The proposed extension will be of traditional block construction, with facing brickwork and horizontal cedar timber boarding to cladding at low-level. The steeply pitched roofs will be clay tiled, other roofs will have high-performance coverings. The external windows will be polyester powder-coated aluminium. The rainwater goods will be mill finish aluminium All materials have been chosen to match those of the existing building.

Impact Assessment

The proposed single-storey extension will be fully accessible to non-ambulant users throughout. An accessible pupil/staff toilet is provided as part of the scheme.

Due to the existing site levels, it is proposed to provide a ramped connection of not more than 1:20 between the existing school and the proposed extension.

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

It is proposed to provide a separate plant room for the extension. An under floor heating system similar to that in the main school will be used in the new-build.

The extension will be principally naturally lit and ventilated and many of the rooms will take advantage of the steeply pitched roofs to create high, airy spaces. New sanitary accommodation will be mechanically ventilated.

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

The existing car parking area will remain unchanged. There is an in principle agreement with Hart District Council to provide an additional 11 staff car parking spaces by use of the public car park to the north of the site.

Landscape proposals

The landscape proposals include the provision of a junior-sized football pitch on land leased by Hart District Council. The land is designated Public Open Space. The school will have access to the pitch during school hours, by agreement, and will be responsible for maintenance. Fencing will be provided between the pitch and the remaining school grounds and to the perimeter of the pitch itself. A formal hard play area is also to be provided, together with other ancillary hard and soft areas.

Situation on site and environmental impact

The project will not have a detrimental effect on the site's existing ecology. The proposed extension is located to have minimal effect on surrounding housing.

6 Planning

A detailed planning application was submitted during February 2008.

7 Building management

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

8 Furniture and equipment

An allocation has been made in the Children's Services Block Vote.

9 Professional resources

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

Electrical and Mechanical Engineering } Property, Business and Regulatory

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.