Sandwell Council has approved the demolition of an empty two-storey modular building at Perryfields Academy in Oldacre Road, Oldbury. The demolition is part of multi-million-pound work which will eventually see six “unfit for purpose” buildings at the former Perryfields High School demolished to make for a new three-story teaching block. A decision on the planning application for the new school is still to be made by Sandwell Council.

The majority of the school’s old and temporary buildings would be flattened including the unused two-storey block, a modular building, and the school’s gym, dance studio, changing rooms, dining hall and kitchen. A two-storey teaching block would be the only building to remain on the current site with the new three-storey building built on the school’s existing playing fields.

The new sports and playing fields, including space for grass football pitches and a running track as well as a five-a-side pitches and basketball and netball courts, would then be built on the old school site and car park. A new car park would replace the school’s former sports hall and outdoor sports courts. The school’s Oldacre Road entrance would also be widened to allow for two-way access to ease congestion problems. Demolishing the old buildings would “reduce change over times between lessons” and “allow for a more open landscape and improve site surveillance for the safety of pupils.”

The work to the 1,200-pupil school in Oldacre Road, Oldbury would be completed by 2029 according to the application. It is hoped the new three-storey building would be built by early 2028. The remaining work – including the new sports fields – is envisioned to be completed by early 2029. The school’s existing “clustered” layout was made up of buildings from different time periods which “limited connectivity” and allowed “areas where pupils can be unsupervised by staff and poses safeguarding issues,” the application said.

The huge work would provide “safe and clear routes” from the existing school to the new building and “greatly improve safeguarding issues posed by the current layout.”

Source:https://uk.news.yahoo.com/empty-teaching-block-demolished-major-043000969.html

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