BAM in line for £32 million batch of Cornish Education schemes
Hemel Hempstead, 16 January 2018 - The ESFA has appointed BAM Construction to deliver £16 million new teaching facilities for Helston Community College in Cornwall. BAM’s appointment follows a competitive procurement process. The scheme is funded through the regional priority school building programme of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) which managed the process.
A new teaching block on the north will also provide a dining hall, sports hall, and ancillary accommodation, with old spaces being demolished afterwards to make way for modern sports pitches. BAM has developed the initial designs for the new College with architect Stride Treglown which is assisting in the scheme’s continued development.
Helston is the first of three schools in the batch. Newquay Tretherras School, also in Cornwall, has also submitted planning proposals. A third school, Plympton Academy in Plymouth is also envisaged and is currently under discussion. Works on the both new community schools are each valued at approximately £8 million, making the potential batch value approximately £32million.
Graham Kingdon, BAM’s Construction Director, said: ‘We not only have to be very competitive to secure good value for money for the ESFA, which means us using very modern and efficient techniques for creating these facilities, but also we have to give the schools fresh buildings matching their needs and aspirations. This is helped by our close partnership with Stride Treglown and by our having a well-developed supply chain in Cornwall thanks to us delivering several recent schemes in the county. We are hopeful we can conclude the process for all the schools to get on site and deliver not only the schools themselves, but also, life opportunities from working with the local community. A construction scheme presents an opportunity to learn and train people for the future benefit of the industry.’
The Education and Skills Funding Agency’s £4.4 billion Priority School Building Programme is rebuilding or refurbishing those school buildings in the very worst condition across the country. There are two phases of the programme, covering a total of 537 schools.
The majority of the 260 schools in the first phase of the programme were opened in their new or refurbished buildings by the end of 2017, two years earlier than originally planned. Under the second phase of the programme, PSBP2, the ESFA plans to have all schools open in their new/refurbished buildings by the end of 2021
Work on Helston College has commenced on site and it is expected to hand over early 2020.
BAM has delivered numerous schemes in Cornwall, including the recently completed Tate St Ives, Bodmin Council’s new offices and retail park, and Newquay Aerohub.
Further information: Mark Slattery, Press and Media Manager, BAM Construct UK Ltd, 01442 238415.