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Fresh plans for multi-million pound 82-pupil Stoke-on-Trent school building

Fresh plans have been lodged for a new multi-million pound development for pupils with special educational needs on a demolished former school site. Stoke-on-Trent City Council wants to transform the old Middlehurst School site, in Chell, which closed 10 years ago.

The proposal would see a new SEN school building constructed to provide much-needed facilities for the nearby Watermill School, which ‘operates above its current capacity’. The vandal-plagued former school was demolished back in 2022, a year after the local authority secured £7.5 million of Government funding for the proposed development.

Similar plans, which included a sports hall, were then lodged and rubber-stamped in January 2023. However, revised proposals have now been put forward.

The planning application states that the new satellite facility will cater for 82 pupils aged between seven and 16 years old. Eight classrooms will be created along with a suite of specialist teaching spaces and staff facilities.

The new development would provide 71 car parking spots as well as seven disability spaces. It is hoped that, if the plans are approved, building work could begin by the end of the year with the development completed by around mid-2026.

The design and access statement says: “The current Watermill School is a SEN school and is located off Turnhurst Road. The school was part of the former BSF programme and was built at the same time and adjacent to the Ormiston Horizon Academy approximately 10 years ago.

“The existing Watermill School operates above its current capacity and has limited scope for extension on its exiting site. However, the Authority has suitable nearby land to develop a satellite provision which has been an element of the Authority’s long-standing strategy to retain former education land for potential future provision in this way.

“The main satellite expansion to Watermill School is a long established plan to bring back into use for SEN provision land formerly used for the Middlehurst Special School (prior to its closure on the formation of Watermill School).”

Members of the council’s planning committee are expected to approve the application next week.

Source: Stoke-on-Trent Live

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Essex pupils welcomed into new net zero school

The first pupils at Limebrook Primary School are settling in after Morgan Sindall Construction’s Essex business handed the keys to Essex County Council at the start of the school year. 

The project was granted through the Essex County Council framework as part of the South Maldon Garden Suburb development – a site that boasts planning permission to deliver up to 1,000 homes, as well as retail space, green spaces and allotments, and sports and playing fields. Taylor Wimpey has been on site for five years at Handley Gardens and provided the serviced land where the school was built.

The tier one contractor has delivered 13 classrooms, a practical room, a studio, and an SEN room, accommodating 420 children in total, with the addition of a new nursery with capacity of 56 places for 0-4 year olds.

Pupils can also enjoy a large sports field, multi-use, hard-court games area, a habitat area, and wildflower meadows on-site, while parents will benefit from a car park with electric vehicle chargers.

Limebrook Primary School is set to deliver net-zero in operation by utilising Photovoltaic (PV) panels and air-source heat pumps which streamline energy efficiency, while the implemented mechanical and natural ventilation strategy and airtightness of the building retain a comfortable temperature for students and staff.

The project’s unique drive for sustainability continued from construction to completion. Through use of the data-driven tool CarboniCa, Morgan Sindall reduced carbon emissions by over 90%, utilising responsibly sourced, palm-oil-free HVO during the development work instead of diesel. By continuing Morgan Sindall’s award-winning 10 Tonne Challenge, the project saved 290.4 tonnes of CO2, which is the equivalent of heating over 107 UK homes for a whole year.

Throughout the school’s construction, the project team engaged with the local community in Maldon to deliver social value where it is most needed. This included employment of local scaffolding, brick-laying, and roofing contractors to bring the project to life.

In line with its Intelligent Solutions approach, Morgan Sindall has utilised BAMTech reinforcement which enhanced the structure’s strength and speed of construction. The school also features a steel frame with a mix of brickwork and Cedral Click cladding, boosting energy efficiency and durability.

Ryan Liversage, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Essex, said: “It is a huge accomplishment to hand over the keys to this new net-zero school. Not only has our hard work created an exceptional learning environment for Maldon’s next generation, but our sustainability initiatives continue to lead the way to a greener future for both construction and education.

“Limebrook Primary School’s success is testament to the great results of our collaboration with Essex County Council, and we can’t wait for the children to enjoy their new school in September.”

Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning, and Employability, said: “This is an exciting moment for the council and the local community. The new school provides much needed school places in the area following an increase in new homes and the focus on net-zero is reflective of the council’s commitment to tackling climate change in Essex through sustainable construction. I can’t wait to hear how pupils are enjoying their new school.”

David Pelle, Land and Planning Director for Taylor Wimpey, said: “Schools, shops and other facilities are essential to creating new communities, so we are delighted to see that Limebrook Primary School is now open. We’re proud to have worked alongside Morgan Sindall at the outset of this project and it’s a testament to their expertise that it has been delivered at such high quality.

“We look forward to completing further community facilities, such as the Limebrook Sports Pavilion, in the coming months.”

 

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New era begins for Ysgol Robert Owen

A new era has begun for a special school in north Powys after pupils and staff moved into their new building this week.

The new school building for Newtown’s Ysgol Robert Owen (formerly Ysgol Cedewain) is the latest project that has been completed by Powys County Council under its Transforming Education Programme.

As part of the programme, the council has already built one new high school and 10 primary schools and also carried out remodelling works at a primary and a high school.

The brand-new building has been built for pupils with additional learning needs by Wynne Construction on behalf of the council. 75% of the funding for the project is being provided by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, with the remaining 25% of funding being provided by the council.

The state-of-the-art new building has replaced the very poor accommodation at the school’s current building, and includes facilities for very vulnerable learners, including a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and physiotherapy rooms and garden as well as a community café.

Outdoor sports facilities will now be developed on the grounds on the site of the former school buildings now they have been vacated.

Staff are now able to teach in a learning environment that is fit-for-purpose, and for parents they have confidence that their children are being supported within the best facilities and accommodation.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “I’m delighted that pupils and staff of Ysgol Robert Owen have moved into their fantastic new school building.

“I would like to thank the school community for their patience while this facility was being built. I would also like to acknowledge the school’s input into this scheme to ensure that it was built to minimise the design impact on pupils.

“This project has seen the council provide a world-class facility for the county’s most vulnerable learners.

“This new building is an important part of our Strategy to Transform Education in Powys and will provide an environment where teaching staff and thrive and give vulnerable learners the facilities that meets their needs, they benefit from and enables them to enjoy learning.”

To read the council’s Strategy for Transforming Education 2020-2032 and details of the Transforming Education Programme – Wave 2 (2022 – 2027) visit Transforming Education

Source: Powys County Council

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Government to take new approach to education infrastructure

Michelle Davies, DPP Consulting’s Director and Education Lead, explores the Labour government’s approach to education infrastructure.

Shortly after Labour took office, its new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced plans to reform the planning system, focusing on unlocking “stalled sites” and prioritising economic benefits in planning decisions. This includes support for local authorities with the appointment of an additional 300 new planning officers.

The government is now also consulting on a new NPPF which now places “significant weight” on the importance of new, expanded or upgraded public infrastructure, including educational buildings. Despite this backdrop, there has been limited information on how the new government will be improving school infrastructure.

The School Rebuilding Programme

The School Rebuilding Programme (SRP) remains active, with no indications from the government that it will be halted. The SRP is a key initiative aimed at addressing the condition of school buildings across England, with plans to rebuild or refurbish over 500 schools in poor condition over a decade.

The importance of this programme is underscored by the National Audit Office (NAO) report from June 2023, which highlighted that approximately 700,000 pupils are learning in schools that require significant rebuilding or refurbishment.

The issue of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) further complicates matters, with 234 education settings in England confirmed as having RAAC and 119 of these schools needing major rebuilding or refurbishment. It remains to be seen how the government will approach this pressing issue.

The government’s primary focus so far has been on other educational reforms, such as increasing teacher recruitment, introducing free breakfast clubs, and pledging to create 3,000 new nurseries within existing primary schools. While it seems unlikely that it would reduce funding on educational infrastructure, there is still no clear commitment at this stage.

A new emphasis on public infrastructure

One area where we see more immediate and tangible changes is in the proposed updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). These updates could provide much-needed support for planning applications related to education infrastructure projects.

In the draft NPPF, paragraphs 96 and 97 have been expanded to encourage not only the provision school places, but also the development of early years and post-16 education infrastructure. This broader scope is significant as it suggests a more holistic approach to supporting educational needs, encompassing nurseries, special education needs (SEN), and further and higher education institutions. 

Moreover, paragraph 98 of the draft NPPF has been revised to place “significant weight” on the importance of new, expanded or upgraded public service infrastructure, including education buildings, in planning decisions. This revision is helpful because planning applications, including for new educational facilities, often involve balancing multiple competing interests. The added emphasis on the importance of educational infrastructure could tip the scales in favour of approval, particularly where there is clear need for improved facilities. As a planner, it will be interesting to see how this plays out in real situations and applications.

The explicit support for a wider range of educational facilities and the greater value placed on these projects within NPPF should be helpful when seeking approval for projects that address not just immediate school place shortages or improvements but also broader educational needs within communities.

Consultation on the new NPPF closes on 24 September 2024 and is expected to be formally in place shortly after. However, when it comes to spending commitments there are a lot of ifs, buts and ‘possibilities’ in all of these statements, and as a fundamental sector in the economic development of the UK, our educators and educational planners could do with more certainty.

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Belhaven Hill School’s new classroom building plan approved

A bid for a new classroom building at a Dunbar school has been given pass marks by East Lothian Council.

Belhaven Hill School approached the local authority’s planning department last summer about creating a new classroom building. Permission was granted and approval has now been given to a second application.

The revised plans, which attracted no objections from members of the public, show two classrooms, a plant and storage room, office, lobby, bathroom and storage room.

The planning officer’s report said: “The proposed building would be of a contemporary design; however, given its siting within the grounds of Belhaven School and the high stone wall boundary treatment to the north of the proposed building, it would be relatively well contained from public views.

“Furthermore, when viewed in the context of the size and scale of the existing buildings within the grounds of the school, the proposed building would appear subservient in height, scale and massing, and would not result in the over development of the area of land on which it would be sited.”

The scheme is part of a three-phase planned development at the school, off Dunbar’s Belhaven Road, which last year celebrated its centenary.

Phase two focuses on the extension and enhancement of sporting facilities, while the final phase looks to replace temporary structures with 21st-century classroom space.

The school counts artist Hugh Buchanan and journalist Magnus Linklater among its former pupils.

Source: East Lothian Courier

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Wolverhampton sees completion of new Passivhaus school

Tilbury Douglas have completed construction of a school on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE), built to Passivhaus standards, near Wolverhampton.

The school, named Wednesfield Technology Primary School, has been completed on the brownfield site of the original Edward the Elder school to Passivhaus standards.

The school has been built to Passivhaus standards, maximising comfort while minimising carbon emissions.

The most important objectives for both the City of Wolverhampton Council and DfE was improving air quality and reducing energy use.

The Passivhaus classic design lent itself to this, as it prioritises building performance and low carbon materials.

Tilbury Douglas far exceeded requirements for air quality, as while they needed to achieve 0.6 Air Changes per Hour (ACH), they ended up with 0.48 ACH, meaning the air within the school will be high quality.

The demolition of the old abandoned school building did not include the caretaker’s lodge building, which was left alone in order to comply with the Grade II listed status of the nearby pub, the Vine Inn.

The technology nature of the school, however, provides students with technology-rich learning opportunities, with a digital skills framework to teach children digital skills and responsibility.

The CEO of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, Sir Mark Grundy, said: “We are thrilled to see the completion of Wednesfield Technology Primary School, a beacon of sustainable and innovative education within the Black Country. This Passivhaus-certified facility represents a significant step forward in our commitment to providing state-of-the-art learning environments. The advanced energy efficiency and superior air quality achieved in this building align perfectly with our goal to foster a healthy and stimulating atmosphere for our students.

“Our collaboration with Tilbury Douglas and the Department for Education has resulted in a pioneering project that not only meets the highest environmental standards but also paves the way for future educational advancements. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this school will have on our community and the exceptional learning experiences it will provide to pupils.”

Source: PBC Today

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£4m –JUST A DROP IN A BUCKET

Nearly £4million has been confirmed as part of a Moray schools investment package to patch-up crumbling buildings that are ranked as being in the worst condition in Scotland.

The council cash will be spent across 14 sites during the next financial year to fix issues electrical wiring, ageing heating systems, roof repairs and drainage.

Meanwhile, a further £5million has been confirmed for new-build projects – including kick-starting preparations for construction to begin on another primary school in Elgin in 2022.

However, critics say the latest Moray schools investment package is just a “drop in the bucket” amid a repair backlog that stretches to £150million.

Concerns surrounding the state of the region’s learning estate were raised in a damning Accounts Commission report this year, which blamed a reluctance of councillors to make “difficult decisions” for the decline.

Sonya Warren, chairwoman of the council’s children and young person’s committee, said: “We know there are significant improvements needed to our learning estate to provide the best possible learning environments.

“Wide-scale and meaningful engagement is planned on how this looks in 10 to 20 years from now as part of our aspirational and investment-driven £300million strategy.

“Meanwhile, it’s hugely important we continue to invest in our school buildings so that, for our current learners, they are as close to the right standard for suitability and condition as we can achieve within the resources we have available.”

Council bosses have already admitted the £300million long-term vision to overhaul Moray’s schools could prove “controversial” among communities.

 

 

Refurbishments, new-builds, mergers and a combination of options have been highlighted as possible solutions.

Next year’s Moray schools investment package includes £340,000 being allocated to begin design work on the new Findrassie Primary School, which is planned for the north of Elgin.

Cash has been pledged to complete work on the new Lossiemouth High School, which is due to open to pupils next year.

Existing classrooms in the town are currently nearing capacity while housebuilding continues to put pressure on facilities.

Meanwhile, cash is due to spent on completing the Lossiemouth High School project, including building artificial sports pitches on the site of the existing school, and at Linkwood Primary in the south of Elgin.

Former council leader George Alexander, who represents Forres as an independent, said: “This money is just a drop in the bucket for what is needed, but these are the financial constraints the council is operating with.

“We’ve got to be careful where we spend the money though before we take decisions about the future of the estate though because I’m fairly convinced it will not remain in its present form.”

Source: The Press and Journal

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