Flintshire to demolish high school, build £31m net zero campus

The council has approved plans to construct the 112,800 sq ft Mynydd Isa Campus, taking down the Brutalist Argoed High School in the process.

The new campus, which would hold by a primary school and a high school, would be net zero carbon in operation, with energy being provided by solar panels and the structure being designed to BREEAM Excellent standards.

Mynydd Isa Campus is being delivered by the Welsh Education Partnership Company and Flintshire County Council Education Department. It will be built on the site of the 1978-built Argoed High School, which will remain operational until construction completes on the new campus.

Money for the £31m project will come from the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model.

“I think it’s fantastic news that Flintshire has another brand new school,” said Cllr David Wisinger, chairman of Flintshire Council’s planning committee.

“We must be very, very fortunate to be able to have the funding for this,” he continued. “It’s fantastic news for Flintshire.”

Mynydd Isa Campus 3, WEPCo And Flintshire County Council, P Planning

Ares Landscape Architects designed the outdoor spaces for the campus. Credit: via planning documents

Situated on nearly 22 acres, the new school will be capable of instructing 600 primary school students and 700 high school ones.

The primary school will have an 85-place nursery as well as a 20-place speech and language resource facility, while the high school will have a 10-place speech programme and a 20-place Asperger’s specially resourced provision.

Mynydd Isa Campus would also have 124 parking spaces. Access would be off Bryn Road.

The two-storey campus would replace Ysgol Mynydd Isa Infants School, Ysgol Mynydd Isa Junior School and Argoed High School. Only Argoed High School is slated for demolition.

Mynydd Isa Campus 2, WEPCo And Flintshire County Council, P Planning

The campus is being funded through the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model. Credit: via planning documents

Mynydd Isa Campus will be net zero carbon in operation, with the project team working to a maximum embodied carbon target of 800kg of carbon dioxide per square metre. That includes the substructure of the school, its superstructure, facades and finishes. The building has been designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, with the possibility of an Outstanding rating.

Energy consumed at the school will be provided by onsite photovoltaic panels, which will be on the roof of the school.

Sheppard Robson is the architect for the scheme. The project team includes Ares Landscape Architects, Arup and TTP Consulting.

Looking to learn more? The now-approved application’s reference number with Flintshire Council is 063496.

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