The Penarth Learning Community scheme, which has now secured planning permission, provides a new building for St Cyres School and a new school to bring three special needs schools under one roof. These are Ysgol Erw’r Delyn, Ysgol Maes Dyfan and Ashgrove School.
Leadbitter has already been working with the Vale of Glamorgan Council over the summer to prepare St Cyres School to accommodate 270 additional pupils from its Dinas Powys site. The contractor has installed four temporary classrooms and new toilets and converted the existing swimming pool into an examination facility and sports hall.
Regional director Rob Bradley said: “We’re delighted to be working with the council and the schools to bring the vision of Penarth Learning Community to life. Our extensive experience delivering state-of-the-art educational environments and BREEAM Excellent buildings throughout Wales will benefit this project greatly, and we look forward to leaving a legacy beyond the building itself by helping the schools use the construction project to support their curriculum and introduce pupils to the construction industry.”
The next step will be to begin construction this month. Phase one will see the new building constructed on the existing playing fields. Once complete, there will be a phased occupation of the two schools, with St Cyres School moving in during October 2014. The new SEN school will be occupied from December 2014. Following this, phase two of the works will see the demolition of the old St Cyres School, Ashgrove School and Ysgol Erw’r Delyn and construction of new sporting facilities.
The building will provide a total of 21,000 square metres of space for the two schools to cater for approximately 1,270 pupils in St Cyres School and 205 pupils in the new SEN school.
Project and cost management, along with CDM services, are being provided by Davis Langdon. The design team includes HLM Architects and Arup.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
