Hautlieu School - approval of drawings

HAUTLIEU SCHOOL: APPROVAL OF DRAWINGS _______________

Lodged au Greffe on 29th May 2001 by the Education Committee

______________________________

STATES OF JERSEY

STATES GREFFE

180             2 0 0 1    P . 8 3          

Price code: B

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion -

(a ) to approve drawings Nos. 2982/12, 20, 23, 24, 29, 31, 46, 47, 53 to 55, 57 to 67, 69 to

18248/D/101  to  103, 105, 107 and 109 and specification  18248 showing the proposed construction of a new Hautlieu School, St.  Saviour; and

  (b ) to authorise the Greffier of the States to sign the said drawings on behalf of the States. EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Notes:  1. T  he Planning and Environment Committee approved these drawings under Permit No.  B/2000/1622 dated

20th March 2001.

2 . T h e Finance and Economics Committee's comments are to follow.

Report

In October 1991 the States approved, in principle, the remodelling and refurbishment of Hautlieu School in 1998 (P.149/91). At that time it was considered that the existing 47-year old buildings needed to be brought up to date and enlarged to meet today's environmental standards and the current and future curriculum requirements. Additional classrooms, specialist rooms, administrative and storage space were to be constructed and the existing accommodation was going to be fully remodelled to provide larger teaching spaces. Separate provision was also to be made to improve the grossly inadequate sports facilities.

By December 1996 it had become clear that to provide accommodation capable of suitably accommodating the needs of the school for at least the next 40 years, a significant amount of new building would be required in addition to extensive remodelling of the existing buildings. At that time, it was planned that three new blocks, one for science, one for art, design and technology and a sports block would be needed and it was identified that a three-phased project, at least, would be required totalling approximately £17.85 million.

In September 1997, the Education Committee considered an extensive and detailed Feasibility Study into various options for the development of Hautlieu. Given clear evidence that the extension and remodelling scheme would give neither value for money nor would provide ideal accommodation within the remodelled existing buildings, the Committee decided to accept the recommendation of the study, which was that a complete new school should be constructed on the adjacent Oakfield site.

The proposals for the new school and the rationalisation of the site were considered by the Planning and Environment Committee, as previously constituted, in November 1997 and that Committee was also of the opinion that the new build plans offered the best alternative.

Subsequently, plans for the development were worked up and an outline planning application was submitted on 5th September 1998. As a result, the Planning and Environment Committee lodged a report and proposition (P.255/98) seeking States' support for its intention to grant permission for the construction of the new school on the existing Oakfield site as an exception to States policies regarding the development of land within the Green Zone.

In December 1998, the States approved the granting of a capital vote to the Education Committee in January 1999 of £23.0  million atDecember 1997 prices, and in February 1999, the States decided to approve the Planning and Environment Committee's report and proposition P.255/98.

Since then, the design and approvals process has been pursued, and planning approval for the scheme was granted by the Planning and Environment Committee on 10th January 2000, and permission in respect of the Building Bye-Laws (Jersey) Law 1997 to construct a new two-storey school on Oakfield Playing Field, was finally granted under permit No.  B/2000/1622 on 20th March 2001.

The new school building, as now approved, will be of relatively simple but modern highly energy-efficient design, and will accommodate up to 675 students in well equipped and flexible spaces. In summary, the school will comprise: eight laboratories with associated preparation, storage and offices spaces, 29 general classrooms, five designated I.C.T. rooms, a range of general tutorial and resource/individual study areas, a two-studio drama suite, a music suite, a recording and editing suite for the delivery of media studies, and a combined art, design and technology wing. The school will also include a new multifunction school hall, student and staff facilities and new administration offices with associated storage areas. The whole building will be set within landscaped grounds containing increased parking facilities and improved road and pedestrian access routes from Wellington Road and St. Saviour's Hill.

Given the recognised and accepted need to seek value for money, the school staff have worked very closely with the design team to ensure that, whilst the facilities being provided remain appropriate and adequate for a 675  pupil school fit for the 21st Century, as far as is possible all areas of the school will be multifunction and multi-use by the school and the wider community. The Committee believes it is a tribute to this close working that the overall size of the school is not over- generous when compared to guideline figures produced by the DfEE for a school of this type and that, even so, the final design has remained faithful to the original design concepts signed up to so strongly in 1998.

Competitive tenders for the new school building (excluding the Phase  2 sports block) are in the process of being obtained and, subject to such tenders being within estimated tolerances, and provided the original budget is increased in line with pre- tender inflation as normal, the Committee will have sufficient funds to proceed and to let the contract in July. The Committee therefore commends these drawings to States Members and urges that approval is granted in order that contracts may, in due course be let and that construction may start as planned, and as approved by the States last year, in July.

Subject to the capital sum already approved being increased to take account of building cost inflation in the normal manner and, subject to tenders received being within the revised available budget, this proposition has no financial implications for

the States.

This proposition has no manpower implications for the States.