New Construction Apprenticeship Gives Boost to School Leavers

A new Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard is filling a skills gap in the building sector and giving a boost to school-leavers, according to West Yorkshire construction employers.

The recently-approved Construction Support Technician (CST) Apprenticeship is the result of two and a half years of collaboration between Leeds College of Building, a network of employers, professional bodies (CABE & CICES), associations (TICA & CECA), and major contractors across the construction and built environment sector.

Some 27 companies from the construction sector – led by Phil Evans of Barratt Developments – collaborated with the education sector on the creation, design and development of the apprenticeship programme. This co-ordinated effort enabled the new Apprenticeship framework to be fully endorsed by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE). The training will launch in September and school leavers can apply now.

Barratt Developments has agreed to take on 25 new CST Apprentices, with similar interest expressed by energy and regeneration specialist EQUANS (the new name for ENGIE’s services-led activity), Persimmon Homes, and several local thermal insulation and civil engineering contractors.

Brian Duffy, Faculty Director at Leeds College of Building, said:

“Gaining formal approval for this new apprenticeship is such brilliant news as it fills a significant training gap in the industry. I’d like to thank everyone involved in creating this standard after years of hard work. This will now offer a great opportunity for employers and hopefully allow a host of apprentices from a range of backgrounds to build long and successful careers in construction and the built environment.

“Many employers want a local apprentice who can learn on the job from a young age. With this training, apprentices get a good grounding in six potential career pathways – estimating, quantity surveying, architectural technology (design and build), purchasing, on-site technician, and planning – before choosing to specialise. This broad understanding of the sector will be invaluable to employers, particularly SMEs who need staff with more rounded skills.”

Phil Evans, Chair of the employer board, and Head of Grants and Funding at Barratt Developments, said:

“I’m really pleased that the Construction Support Technician Apprenticeship Standard has been approved. I’d like to thank all the members of the Trailblazer Group, especially the previous Chair, Lee Firth, who led the group almost to the end. This standard will provide an important development opportunity for new entrants to the industry in roles where we have a skills shortage at all levels.

“A big challenge for the sector as we move towards net-zero carbon is ensuring that there is a new generation of workers with the skills needed to deliver the Future Home Standard. This new apprenticeship programme is a significant step towards attracting and retaining a larger and more diverse workforce to meet the future needs of communities.”

Owing to the project’s success, Leeds College of Building was invited to deliver a best practice seminar to a range of college members in the British Association of Construction Heads (BACH) to showcase the Construction Support Technician (CST) Apprenticeship Standard. 

Jordan Grainger, Learning & Development Manager at EQUANS said:

“It has been a pleasure to be part of the trailblazer group to develop this much needed apprenticeship standard. The course will enable young people to enter the industry and gain a recognised qualification that gives them a breadth of knowledge and skills within the built environment, allowing them to develop through a specific career pathway. 

“At EQUANS, we have noticed a gap in the current apprenticeship offering which has had an impact on recruitment for Construction Technician roles. We are now excited to be seeking our first Level 3 CST apprentices this summer, allowing us to continue to build our early careers talent pool.” 

The CST Apprenticeship acts as an alternative pathway to A Levels and requires four GCSEs at grade 4 and above, including Maths and English. Apprentices attending Leeds College of Building will complete a BTEC L3 Diploma and produce a work-based portfolio whilst working towards completion of an End Point Assessment to conclude their apprenticeship over the two-year duration. Employers considering taking on an apprentice and interested in the CST Apprenticeship can contact the Leeds College of Building Apprenticeship Team on 0113 222 6041 or email wblinfo@lcb.ac.uk.

For full course information, visit the Leeds College of Building website.

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Contractor appointed to build new £9.1m school in Powys

A building project that will transform education for vulnerable learners in Powys has reached an important milestone, the county council has announced.

ISG Ltd has been awarded the contract by Powys County Council to build a new school for Brynllywarch Hall School.  Construction on the £9.1m project will start early next year.

The school, located in Kerry near Newtown, provides education for pupils from 8 to 19-year-olds, with a wide range of complex emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

The project will help the council improve learner entitlement and experience.

When completed, the council will have delivered a purpose-built and flagship community focused school with 72 places in age-appropriate environments which will include:

  • Specialist support and provision to pupils with challenging behaviour, emotional and social difficulties in a modern and innovative learning environment
  • Appropriate learning spaces to deliver the new national curriculum
  • Specialist equipment, including IT facilities, to support teaching and learning outcomes which will help to ensure all learners maximise their potential
  • A fully equipped class base, with breakout space and hygiene facilities, together with an individual outdoor learning area.

Community groups will also be able to access the facilities out of school hours.

The Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme (formerly the 21st Century Schools Programme) will fund 75% of the school construction project with the remaining 25% being funded by the council.

This exciting development is the latest construction project that has been tendered by the council that has used the National TOMs Framework – which stands for themes, outcomes and measures – which has been developed to help councils measure the social value outcomes in their contracts.

The social value element of this project has been calculated at £2.093m which will require ISG Ltd to provide substantial opportunities for local contractors as well as deliver additional community benefits during the scheme’s construction.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “I’m delighted see ISG Ltd appointed as the lead contractors to build the new school for Brynllywarch Hall School.

“The existing Brynllywarch Hall building no longer offers a suitable environment for the teaching and support requirements of pupils with significant behavioural, emotional or social difficulties.

“When complete, the new building will provide an environment where teaching staff can thrive and provide pupils with the facilities that enable their needs to be met their needs giving them a more enjoyable and fulfilling educational experience.

“We therefore look forward to working together with ISG Ltd as them turn the plans into bricks and mortar.”

Kath Roberts-Jones, Chair of Governors and Headteacher Gavin Randell, said: ” The whole school community is very pleased that the well needed new school is progressing and is looking forward to working closely with the contractors and bring the school to completion.”

ISG’s Operations Director, Kevin McElroy, said: “We’re proud to be working with Powys County Council to build state-of-the-art facilities for Brynllywarch Hall School. It is an exemplar project designed around the principles of strong contractor engagement to deliver an outstanding education facility that brings equal learning opportunities to all of its students.

“Upon completion the facility will provide the much-needed specialist support and the learning environments to deliver tailored lessons, enabling and empowering all pupils to be educated to the national curriculum – all while meeting crucial environmental criteria. Once open it is set to achieve net zero carbon in operation and offer significant social value requirements that we look forward to collaborating with Powys on and maximising local opportunities.

“The delivery of this project expands on our vast experience in the area and is the latest we have secured through the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme via the SEWSCAP3 Framework. It follows the successful completion of South Point Primary in the Vale of Glamorgan earlier this year, the first net zero carbon school in Wales.”

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Temporary School at the Eden Project

CGI of the proposed Sky Primary Academy which is to be built as part of the West Carclaze Garden Village development near St Austell

 

 

A temporary school is set to be built at the Eden Project after a new primary school for the West Carclaze Garden Village was put on hold after the builders went into administration.

A planning application has been submitted to Cornwall Council for the temporary school buildings.

The application is for a modular school building which will have two classrooms, offices, a store and toilet facilities.

It is proposed to be built on land which is currently used as an overflow car park for the attraction.

However, work has come to a halt after the contractor building the new school went into administration.

As a result the temporary school at Eden would be used for the first pupils who should have started at the new school in September.

A design and access statement with the application said: “The temporary accommodation will provide space for pupils anticipated to start at the proposed new single form entry Sky Primary Academy and Eden Project Nursery at the West Carclaze Garden Village, which had been due to open in September 2022.

“Construction is currently delayed due to the contractor going into administration, which results in the need for the temporary accommodation until a new contractor can be appointed and construction of the permanent site completed.

“The school will be operated by Kernow Learning.”

The temporary school building will have space for staff and visitor parking and there will also be a playground area for the children.

There will be a separate drop-off area for children and parents as well as designated pedestrian routes into the school.

A summary in the design and access statement said: “This proposal addresses the need to provide temporary accommodation for pupils due to start in September 2022 at the proposed new Sky Primary Academy and Eden Project Nursery as part of the West Carclaze Garden Village.

Source: The Packet

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New Research Facility – University of Glasgow

A flagship research facility at the University of Glasgow has been opened by Nobel prize winning Chemist, Professor Sir David MacMillan.

The £118 million Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC) will be the creative and collaborative heart of cross-disciplinary research at the University of Glasgow.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow welcomed guests to an event in the atrium of the new building. Nobel Laureate, Professor Sir David MacMillan, addressed attendees before unveiling a plaque to mark the official opening of the building.

The University’s UNESCO Poet in Residence, Tawona Sithole, performed a specially commissioned piece of poetry, entitled ‘arc’, to celebrate the occasion.

The Mazumdar-Shaw ARC will provide a unique environment for delivering world changing research; it is designed to promote collaboration and pioneer new ways of working.

It will also act as a catalyst for strengthening relationships between the University of Glasgow and its stakeholders including funders, industry, civic bodies, and the public.

The building is named after University of Glasgow graduate John Shaw and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who donated $7.5 million to the University of Glasgow for the building’s construction and to fund a Professorial Chair.

Speaking at the event, Prof Sir MacMillan said: “I am honoured to open the Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre at the University of Glasgow. This truly is a unique and inspiring building, which recognises and reflects the University of Glasgow’s world changing research ambitions.”

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said: “The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre creates an environment that enables bold and creative research with world-changing potential.

“This would not have been possible without the hard work of all our colleagues who have helped bring the ARC to reality and all the people and organisations who believe in the University of Glasgow’s vision. I would like to thank you all for your support”

Kiran and John Shaw said: “It is our fervent hope that the Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre will provide a unique environment that supports the kind of inter-disciplinary, collaborative research that leads to breakthrough and world changing innovations, which will enhance the quality of life and through the betterment of human society.”

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Lord Provost marks Usher building milestone at topping out celebration

left – right: Aziz Sheikh, Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, Jonathan Seckl

Construction of a world-class research and teaching facility at Edinburgh BioQuarter has reached its highest point.

Due to open in 2024, the new Usher building will accelerate data-driven innovation within the health and care sector.

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Councillor Robert Aldridge, joined representatives from across the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh BioQuarter, alongside principal contractor McLaughlin & Harvey, to celebrate the topping out of the building.

The Usher Institute is part of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative and is supported by £48.5million from the UK Government and £0.7million from the Scottish Government through the £1.4 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal – a 15 year investment programme jointly funded by both governments and regional partners.

The new building will join a growing health innovation ecosystem across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland region.

Once open, it will bring together over 900 researchers, health and care providers, and industry partners focused on transforming the delivery of health and social care.

Building on existing expertise and interdisciplinary research within the Usher Institute, the project will accelerate new public, private and third sector partnerships to discover, develop and deploy data-driven solutions to address the most pressing issues in health and social care.

Development of the building will also bring additional benefits to the local community, with a dedicated open space for community connections, support and inspiration for STEM and innovation life-long learning and employment and by being a good neighbour.

 

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said: “It’s fantastic that the next milestone has been reached on what will be a world class research and teaching facility in the region. The Usher Institute was and continues to be central to Scotland’s understanding of, and response to, COVID-19. The importance of using data science to improve and save lives has never been more obvious and I very much look forward to the work that will be undertaken in the finished Usher building. The Usher Institute enhances Scotland’s world-leading health data assets and is central to our future ambitions for developing an international network of healthcare innovation at Edinburgh BioQuarter to understand and advance global health.”

 

 

Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh, Director, Usher Institute said: “Collaboration is at the core of our data-driven vision for the new building, bringing together outstanding academic and clinical expertise within the Usher Institute, alongside companies and health and social care providers. Working together, we hope to find solutions to some of the biggest health challenges facing our country, delivering better health and care for those in the region and across Scotland.”

 

Anna Stamp, Interim Programme Director, Edinburgh BioQuarter said: “The Usher Institute will deliver unrivalled health and social care data opportunities, and is designed to reflect the collaborative nature of the institute and our community of world-leading health and life sciences innovators.

“This groundbreaking development will support the wider ambitions to make Edinburgh the data capital of Europe, and supports our vision to create a Health Innovation District that will ensure Edinburgh is a leading global destination for pioneering health innovation and enterprise. Delivering many benefits for people and patients, locally, nationally and internationally.”

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Battersea Campus Significant Transformation

 image © Iwan Baan

Signifying the most significant expansion in its history, the Royal College of Art celebrates the unveiling of its new Herzog & de Meuron-designed campus in Battersea, London. RCA notes that the £135 million expansion signifies its ongoing transformation into a dynamic postgraduate university focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM).

Alongside the new built space — defined in part by its brickwork volume stretching a full city block — the university’s curriculum will expand into computer and materials science, robotics, advanced manufacturing, complex visualization and data science, and intelligent mobility. With this forward-thinking new focus, RCA aims to inspire and enable its students to take on some of the most critical challenges of the modern age.

With its new campus for the Royal College of Art in London, Herzog & de Meuron introduces a massive amount of new facility and studio spaces for students. First, four stories of studios and workshops will host room for Sculpture and Contemporary Art Practice, Moving Image (video and film), and the School of Design. These studios will create collaborative social and educational areas, along with space for temporary exhibitions and large-scale works.

The so-called Hangar is a double height, 350 square-meter (3,770 square-foot) multi-purpose activity space at the center of the campus. Here, vast doors at each end allow for the installation of heavy, large, or complex works of art. Next, a Robotics Hangar takes shape as a smaller hangar and gallery space for the research testing and assembly of intelligent mobility, design engineering, sculpture and robotics — enabling even the testing of aerial and aquatic robotics.

The Rausing Research & Innovation Building introduces eight floors of dedicated independent and confidential research space for areas such as materials science, soft robotics, advanced manufacturing, intelligent mobility, and AR and VR visualization, housed in the Snap Visualisation Lab.

A new purpose-built home has been built for the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, which undertakes design research and projects with industry that contribute to improving people’s lives. The InnovationRCA now stands as the RCA’s center for enterprise, entrepreneurship, incubation, and business support.

 

Herzog & de meuron respects the community and environment

The new Herzog & de Meuron-designed campus will ensure that the Royal College of Art engages the local community. Public walkways intersect the site, continuing the original Victorian street grid of this quarter of London. Meanwhile, the interior fit-out of the new campus celebrates the iconic designs of RCA alumni and staff, bringing together furniture and fittings selected for their approach to sustainable manufacturing and energy efficiency, concepts which are central to the new development.

The building has been certified as BREEAM excellent following a £3 million investment, using a combination of integrated design and most significantly a commitment to low and zero carbon technologies.

Source: Design Boom

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LEARNING OUTDOORS

Highwood and Romsey Primary School celebrate the official opening of ‘amazing’ new outdoor classroom to enrich science learning

You can view a timelapse film of the building of Romsey Primary School’s new outdoor classroom here:

 

Highwood, the renowned Romsey-based property developer, has joined children and staff of Romsey Primary School and Nursery to celebrate the official opening of a special outdoor classroom it has donated that will enrich the way the children learn about science and other subjects while connecting closely with nature.

Spruce Class, the new teaching facility, forms part of the Cosmos project, an initiative funded by the European Commission to establish the viability and sustainability of ‘open schooling’ and collaboration in science education. Southampton University will now work with Romsey Primary School to collect data to evaluate the long-term success of science education within the new environment.

Highwood jumped at the opportunity to donate the new classroom to the school and, to get the project off the ground, a determined team of Highwood volunteers spent three days transforming a beautiful outside area into a teaching space for the children. With generous support from local businesses, including Carlton Civil Engineering, Ace Liftaway, Elliotts and Travis Perkins, the project was an impressive community effort that will provide invaluable educational rewards for the children for generations to come.

A sanctuary for the children to explore the connection between nature and education

‘Highwood is a proud Romsey business and being able to support our local community is very important to us,’ revealed Mark Baskerville, CEO of Highwood. ‘Many of our employees are also local and we know the difference acts of kindness can make to their families – especially when it involves children whose schooling has been affected by the Covid pandemic.

‘Highwood builds homes, care homes and retirement villages for communities across our region and our mission is always to enhance the lives of those within them. It’s been an absolute pleasure to do that on such a local scale for the children and teachers at Romsey Primary School.’

Headteacher, Jason Anderson, reinforced the need for children to be given the space to learn after a period of such disruption.

‘The pandemic and lockdowns have had a huge impact on our children,’ he commented. ‘We’re now providing a range of spaces for children to learn in where they feel safe, happy and can readjust. The new outdoor teaching space is an amazing opportunity for them to have their own special sanctuary and benefit from the special connection between nature and education.

‘It’s also important for us to shape future generations’ attitudes to service and charity and to show the impact those values can make. Highwood has demonstrated that explicitly through its very generous donation – the message that gives is invaluable.’

Romsey’s Abbey Ward Town Councillor, Nik Daas, was invited to cut the ribbon and declared the superb new teaching facility open.

‘It’s a wonderful space that will deliver huge benefits for the school,’ said Cllr. Daas. ‘It will bring the children closer to nature and support them with their learning after these difficult years. Spruce Class will enable them to get out of the classroom and learn in a new, inspiring way and I’m sure they’ll make full use of it. Thanks to Highwood and Romsey Primary School, this fantastic project will be a huge asset to the children of Romsey.’

The generosity of local businesses also saw Hillier Garden Centre gift the children a fantastic selection of seeds and gardening equipment and they wasted no time in potting an array of flowers and vegetables as soon as the new classroom was declared open.

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Safe and Comfortable Buildings the right of all pupils

According to documents leaked to The Observer newspaper, deteriorating school buildings in England are a “risk to life.”

The leaked emails are from officials working for the Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, as part of a weekly update to Downing Street from the Department for Education (DfE).

The leak states that: “School buildings: the deteriorating condition of the school estate continues to be a risk, with condition funding flat for FY [financial year] 2022-23, some sites a risk-to-life, too many costly and energy-inefficient repairs rather than rebuilds, and rebuild demand x3 supply.”

The Observer article also reports that this is the second time DfE officials have raised this issue.

 

A 2019 report from The Guardian suggested that 17 per cent (3,731) of schools were found to have buildings with roofs, walls or windows, in need of immediate repair.

In a statement given to The Observer, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union said:

“All children deserve to learn in high quality, safe and comfortable buildings. But in 2022-23, capital funding is £1.9 billon less per year in real terms than it was in the last years of the Labour government. If the government had not cut Labour’s school rebuilding programme, £27 billon more would have been spent on school and college buildings. So, while any money spent on school buildings is welcome, the scale needs to be judged against what has been cut, which is 50 times larger.

“The challenges that need to be addressed are huge. And whether the issue to be addressed is potentially dangerous roofing, retrofitting for energy efficiency and to help meet climate obligations, or basic repairs, the challenge is made all the greater by the presence of asbestos in so many school buildings. The government needs to show much more ambition and urgently address these issues in a strategic way.”

 

The School Rebuilding Programme

 

The School Rebuilding Programme plans to refurbish education buildings in priority order according to their condition. The first 50 schools to join the programme were announced in February 2021, and a further 50 in July 2021.

From 2022 to 2023, the programme expects to prioritise up to 300 schools, reserving the remaining places for later in the programme.

A 2019 report from The Guardian suggested that 17 per cent (3,731) of schools were found to have buildings with roofs, walls or windows, in need of immediate repair.

Of the 21,796 schools researched, 1,313 had elements that were graded D, defined as “life expired and/or serious risk of imminent failure”.

 

Source: This Week in FM

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£2.8m to reduce carbon footprint

The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester receive £2.8m to reduce their carbon footprint

The funding is part of a huge transformation that will ensure the c. £140m estates redevelopment and their existing estate is more sustainable.

 The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester have secured £2.8m funding to reduce their overall carbon footprint and take steps to become more sustainable.

To achieve Greater Manchester’s commitment to becoming a carbon neutral city region by 2038, the College is to reduce emissions by 13% every year. This includes the brand new city centre campus becoming zero carbon by 2028.

The £2.8m grant secured by the College comes from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and delivered by Salix Finance. The funds will provide LED lighting replacements at the College’s Wythenshawe, Shena Simon, Harpurhey and Openshaw campuses reducing the energy and electricity usage as well as roof and wall insulation at Openshaw and roof insulation at their Shena Simon campus.

The funding was partially provided by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) after being awarded c.£75M of PSDS funding last year and since then has been working with a range of Greater Manchester partners to deliver investment in carbon reduction works that meet Government funding criteria.

Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installations are being installed at the College’s Wythenshawe, Harpurhey and Openshaw campuses, to reduce reliance on gas fired water heating as part of a commitment to remove the need for fossil fuels within the public sector.

A 400KW photo voltaic array will also be installed at the College’s Openshaw campus which will help generate significant renewal electricity supplies to reduce reliance on the National Grid.

The equivalent carbon of over 1,131 trees per annum will be saved through the implementation of these carbon reduction measures.

The additional funding will further enhance The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester’s sustainability credentials, at a time when it is nearing the end of its c. £140m investment to transform its estate to deliver industry standard facilities that will ensure learners of all ages are able to acquire all the skills they will need to have a successful and rewarding career.

The project includes significant redevelopment of existing campuses and building a brand-new state-of-the-art campus in the centre of Manchester which will open in September this year.

The disposal of several of sites later this year will enable further energy efficiency in the existing estate and improve the College’s position when minimising carbon and energy usage.

To support the Council in achieving their target and in line with their Low Energy and Carbon Agenda, the College’s City Campus Manchester has incorporated a number of design features to reduce carbon emissions, including improving the glazing g-values in order to limit solar gains and reduce cooling requirements and utilising high levels of insulation and air tightness to minimise heat loss.

Other design features include utilising on-site renewable energy, reducing operational energy through consideration of building fabric and passive design, systems efficiency, energy management and considering the physical wellbeing of building occupants such as indoor air quality, daylight, and overheating.

Lisa O’Loughlin, Principal of The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester, commented: “As an organisation with a strong commitment to sustainability, we are passionate about playing our part in protecting the environment and reducing our own carbon footprint. This funding will enable us to take important steps forward in achieving our sustainability goals and ensure that we are not only providing industry standard facilities for generations to come, but also playing our part in addressing climate change challenges now so that there is less pressure on future generations to solve the climate crisis.”

The target carbon reduction expected to be achieved from all works is c.340 tonnes of carbon/annum across the estate, which is equivalate to the weight of around 340 baby Humpback Whales or 217,600 bricks.

The majority of the carbon reduction work is due to be complete in Spring 2022.

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Safey Rules as 2.4m perimeter fence gets the go ahead

Lipson Co-Operative Academy (Image: PCross)

Plymouth school building safeguarding fence after incidents

A massive new perimeter fence around Lipson Co-operative Academy will be built for ‘safeguarding reasons’. Plymouth City Council planners have given the go ahead for the school’s plans for new 2.4m high perimeter fencing.

Details with the application outline a series of incidents which has led to the fence being required. They include a non-school member who entered the school and produced a knife, a physical assault involving female student and male non-school member, and unauthorised access by known drug dealer.

Another incident saw a teacher attacked by a dog during school hours causing significant injuries. Suspicious people onsite watching children, and verbal assaults are also mentioned on the incident log with the application.

A previous version of the scheme had angered locals as it would extinguish the established sustainable pedestrian and cycle routes between Bernice Terrace, Mullet Road and Mount Gould Park. That scheme was withdrawn, and a new plan with an alternative fence line allowing for a pedestrian and cycle route to be provided from Mount Gould Park to Mullet Road for public use, as well as public access to allow for a public footpath between Mount Gould Park and Bernice Terrace, was submitted.

Ongoing discussions between Lipson Co-operative Academy and Plymouth City Council have taken place to draft legal agreements in relation to the permissive route through the woodland and the path creation agreement for the footpath from Mount Gould Park to Mullet Road. But council officers have given planning permission for the new fence to be built.

The report of the planning officers said: “Concerns were raised within the letters of representation regarding the visual impact of the proposal on the local area and the fact the fencing would adversely impact the character of the area. While the fencing can be viewed by nearby residential properties, on balance the proposal is not considered to result in a demonstrably harmful feature that will prejudice the ongoing enjoyment of nearby properties.

“Officers have taken into account the safeguarding issues raised and do not consider the visual impact concerns to outweigh the need for increased safeguarding. The proposal will not lead to the significant loss of sustainable transport connections to neighbourhood green space.

“Officers have worked proactively with the applicant to take into account all comments received from members of the public as well as the need for increased safeguarding at Lipson Co-Operative Academy. The development is compliant with policies of the Joint Local Plan and officers have concluded that the proposal accords with policy and national guidance and is therefore recommended for approval.”

A statement with the planning application, explaining the requirement for the fence, had said: “The proposals will enhance the safety of those students on roll at the school, ensuring that a secure boundary is provided, preventing any future security breaches, along with any associated criminal offences and health and safety instances. The safety of the pupils on roll is paramount and this is a significant benefit of the proposals.

“Sustainable pedestrian and cycle routes between Bernice Terrace, Mullet Road and Mount Gould Park will be retained and improved through the adoption of the footpath. This is a further significant social benefit of the proposals.

“The proposals seek to address the deficiencies identified within the safeguarding provision at the Lipson Co-operative Academy, through the replacement of the existing dilapidated 1.2 metre high wooden fence and erection of a secure, 2.4 metre fence around the perimeter of the school.”

Source: Plymouth Live

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