Neston School rebuild plans revealed

Morgan Sindall has released plans for the £25m redevelopment of Neston High School in Cheshire, as part of its appointment to the Government's latest Priority School Building Programme.

A public consultation opened last week on the proposals, which will see a three-storey building built next to the current Recreation Centre at the school site. The building design includes a central main hall and dining area, with classrooms located around the outside.

Cheshire West & Chester Council will decide on the planning application in October.

Enabling works are expected to begin in December 2015, with construction of the school and play area scheduled to start in January 2016. From September 2017 demolition of the old school buildings will begin, to make way for new parking and a bus stop.

The construction site includes part of the sports field, the former Sure Start Centre and the Leonardo Centre.

In the latest school newsletter, Neston's head teacher Steven Dool said: "The school will be constructed well away from the existing school building, which means that students and teachers will be able to continue their work as normal throughout the programme.

"With a scheduled build time of 20 months following the necessary planning applications, we eagerly anticipate the school being completed by 2017 and starting the next chapter in our school's development."

Morgan Sindall was announced by the Education Funding Agency as the winner for the £120m contract to build 12 schools across the North West in August this year. The projects are the third privately financed batch of Priority School Building Programme schools.

Morgan Sindall will be responsible for the design and construction of the schools as well as the provision of maintenance and lifecycle services over the next 25 years.

The contractor is supported on the programme delivery by architecture practices Stride Treglown and HLM Sheffield, alongside engineering firms Cundall, Waterman Group and 3E Consultants.