Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1. This report seeks approval to the design proposal for East New Forest (CLD) Primary School, Totton.

2) Issues Covered in Report:

The following areas are outlined in this report:

2.1. Although funding for the project has already been approved this report outlines the estimated costs and sources of funding.

2.2. Any significant issues from either the Risk or Combined Impact Assessment which will need to have specific attention in the design or implementation of this project.

2.3. The detail of the proposed design is laid out for approval.

3) Recommendations:

3.1. That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources that the design for the proposed East New Forest (CLD) Primary School, Totton, at an estimated total cost of £11,200,000 (including fees of £1,586,000), be approved.

MAIN REPORT

1) Scope of Work:

1.1. It is proposed to construct a new CLD (Complex Learning Difficulties) Primary School to replace the existing Forest Edge Special School and for primary age pupils currently attending Salterns Special School, both of which are situated in Totton. The new school will provide educational facilities for 72 children aged between 2-11 years, with special educational needs. A nursery facility for up to 13 special needs children is also included within the development proposals.

2) Contextual Information:

2.1. In August 2006, as part of the East New Forest Special Schools Review, a feasibility study for an `all age' CLD school was completed which recommended the construction of a new school in the area. The scheme provides the opportunity to improve the educational environment for children with special educational needs in the East New Forest area of Hampshire.

2.2. The proposed new school will be located on the site of the existing Forest Edge Special School, at Lydlynch Road, Totton. On completion of the scheme, the Forest Edge Special School will be demolished.

2.3. The estimated total cost of the scheme, including fees, is £11,200,000 and this sum has been allocated in the Children's Services Capital Programme 2009/10.

2.4. The project is being procured through the IESE Tier 1 framework. A contractor is due to be appointed shortly, to provide pre-construction services, following selection through mini-competition in accordance with the framework procedures. It is anticipated that enabling works will commence on site during the summer of 2009, with the main contract commencing on site in November 2009.

2.5. The Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design of the East New Forest (CLD) Primary School and the purpose of this report is to outline and seek approval to the proposals.

2.6. The proposed scheme will maximise wellbeing and enhances the quality of place for all users of the School by providing a purpose-built facility which replaces inadequate and inappropriate accommodation.

3) Finance:

3.1. Capital Expenditure:

a) The Capital Expenditure has already been approved; the following tables outline the breakdown its distribution across the project:

Sources of Funding:

b) Building Cost:

Net Cost = £2,421 per m²

Gross Cost = £3,660 per m²

c) Furniture & Equipment:

Funding for the new furniture and equipment and ICT needs for the school is included within the £11.2m.

Revenue Issues:

d) Overview of Revenue Implications:

Please Note: 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.

e) Energy Costs:

The estimated annual energy consumption for the new accommodation will meet that required by current Building Regulations. The anticipated energy cost per year is £19,400 (£6.34 per square metre), with 122 tonnes of CO² per year.

4) Risk & Impact Issues:

4.1. Please see Appendix B for a summary of the risk and impact issues considered in relation to the design of this project.

5) Details of site and existing Infrastructure:

5.1. Forest Edge School is located at Lydlynch Road, Totton, on the edge of the New Forest. The site is bounded by Lydlynch Road to the north, with allotments beyond. Abbotswood Junior School lies to the west, with housing to the east. The site has a fenced boundary to Ringwood Road to the south.

5.2. The school is of Scola type 2 construction, dating from 1969. The building has limited staff facilities and no specialist therapy facilities. Both the fabric of the building and the services are coming to the end of their useful and economic life.

5.3. The Clifford Centre, located to the south of Forest Edge School, will be relocated to another site to facilitate this development. This will be administered under a separate arrangement by Children's Services and the Estates Practice.

5.4. The existing gas and water supplies will be disconnected and disinvested. New gas and water supplies will be connected to the new school.

5.5. Access to the existing school is from Lydlynch Road (which also serves Lydlynch Infant School). This is a no-through route which becomes very congested at pick-up and drop-off times. Highway and traffic management proposals have been developed in consultation with Forest Edge and Abbotswood schools. The new entrance will be located in Ringwood Road and is arranged to alleviate the congestion and conflict of the existing entrance, by use of a one-way system.

6) Scope of the Project:

6.1 The building will provide the following accommodation:

· 3 key stage 1 teaching spaces

· 6 key stage 2 teaching spaces

· nursery

· group rooms

· sports hall

· dining hall

· hydrotherapy pool

· soft play area

· physiotherapy room

· multi-sensory room

· speech therapy room

· occupational therapist room

· music and drama space

· food technology room

· practical room

· IT area

· library

· hygiene rooms

· accessible toilets

· laundry

· chair store

· equipment stores

· resource store

· mobility stores

· staff and reception facilities

· meeting room

· interview room

· learning support assistant room

· office for visiting professional

· admin medical space

· parents' room

· kitchen

7) The Proposed Building:

7.1. The structure will be of single-storey, steel-frame construction with mono or duo pitched roofs. Some service areas will be two-storey. The dual pitched roofs incorporate a mezzanine floor at eaves level.

7.2. The outer walls of the school will be constructed of brick, with inner facades of timber and glass. Pitched roofs are constructed using metal standing seam. Corridor and support accommodation roofs will be high-performance membrane.

7.3. Underfloor heating will be installed for all main teaching and administration spaces. A supply and extract ventilation system will be provided to the hydrotherapy pool, soft play and multi-sensory room. Mechanical ventilation will serve the kitchen and extract ventilation will serve all toilets, showers, hygiene rooms, practical and food technology spaces.

8) External Works:

8.1. Landscaping proposals will provide:


· new car park (with one-way system, drop-off/pick-up area and disabled parking zone)

· new pedestrian routes inside the site

· reception-age play area

· sensory garden

· lower years play/outdoor teaching area

· upper years play/outdoor teaching area

· entrance garden and staff seating area

· minibus parking area

· service/delivery road and parking area (with bin stores)

· pathways around site

· external store

· gas/electrical meter housing

· ball court with all-weather surface

· security fencing

· planting of trees and shrubs to various areas

8.2. 26 staff car parking space will be provided from Lydlynch Road. Approximately 22 spaces will be provided for drop-off and collection on the south side of the new school. A total of four accessible spaces are provided over and above the level drop-off provided at the front of the school. A dedicated minibus parking area will be created to the western elevation of the school.

9) Planning:

Planning permission was achieved on 12 February 2009.

10) Building Management:

Existing arrangements will apply.

11) Professional Resources:

Architectural Services ) Property, Business and
Quantity Surveying ) Regulatory Services
Electrical and mechanical engineering )
Structural engineering ) WSP
Acoustic engineering ) Arup Acoustics
Drainage engineering )

12) Consultations:

12.1. The following have been consulted during the development of this project and their feedback can be seen in overview in Appendix B

· Headteacher and Governors of School

· Children's Services Department

· Environment Department

· Fire Officer

· Access Officer

· Local County Councillor

· Police Authority

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Appendix A

FEEDBACK FROM CONSULTEES:

OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS:

OTHER FORMAL CONSULTEES:

Appendix B

RISK & COMBINED IMPACT ASSESSMENT:

Race and Equality Impact assessment:

Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified.

Crime prevention issues:

The County Council has a legal obligation under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to consider the impact of all the decisions it makes on the prevention of crime. The proposals in this report have been shared with the local officer and their comments have been considered within the proposals.

Fire risk assessment:

In consultation with the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, a fire risk assessment recommends that a sprinkler system is installed for property protection purposes, on the basis of:

1 Potential rebuild costs following a fire, balanced against the cost of the sprinkler system provision.

2 The difficulty of providing continuity of service following a fire, due to the specialist nature of the facility.

3 The provision of a property protection based system is consistent with other special schools of a similar size and value.

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.

Climate Change/Sustainability:

BREEAM Schools scheme: The project is being tested against a scheme generated by the Building Research Establishment.  This  assesses and benchmarks  the environmental performance of the building and provides guidance on ways of minimizing the adverse effects on the global and local environments.

Below ground drainage system: The site drainage will be such that surface water discharge from the increased impermeable area will be directed to ground and storage provided so that the run-off from the 1 in 100 year plus 20% for climate change storm is contained within the site and without any flooding of buildings occurring.

Lighting: Key areas will be dimmable and be controlled by absence detection and daylight linking. This will ensure that the spaces respond to occupation and adjustments in external light levels. Photo cells and time clocks will control the external lighting ensuring that they come on when light levels dictate and do not remain on throughout the night.

Generation of heat and power: Hot water and underfloor heating will be generated by energy efficient boilers and a Combined Heat and Power unit. Solar Thermal Energy will also assist in providing hot water and thermal energy to the Hydrotherapy pool water heat exchanger and Air Handling Units.

Insulation: The building will be highly insulated with argon filled doubled glazed windows.

Naturally ventilated: Accommodation is orientated to minimise solar gain, maximise cross ventilation and limit a reliance on mechanical ventilation.

Value for Money:

Factors taken into consideration during the development process to ensure that the project is delivering value for money:

Procurement - the scheme has been procured through the IESE tier 1 framework via a mini competition with six of the framework contractors and will achieve the benefits of delivery through collaborative working arrangements.

Buildability/Specification - the early involvement of the contractor in the design development process has enabled them to contribute valuable experience, knowledge and expertise into achieving optimum design solutions in terms of buildability, quality and costs over the life of the building.

Whole Life Costs - the development of the project has included an analysis of costs over the whole life-cycle of the building. A Whole Life Cost plan has been prepared for the project and will be used as a benchmark for future special school projects carried out by the County Council.

Sustainability - the scheme has been designed with a strong sustainability agenda. An `excellent' BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Benchmark for Sustainability) rating is being targeted and will reflect in the longer-term benefits which will be delivered through low-energy use. Technologies such as rainwater harvesting, micro CHP and solar thermal heating are all being utilised in the latest design.