Decision details

Woodlands Meed College - Allocation of Funding for Feasibility Study for Alternative Site at Jane Murray Way ES06 (20/21)

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Cabinet Member for Finance

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Woodlands Meed is a Special School and College for 2-19 year olds in Burgess Hill providing for about 100 15-19 year old pupils. It is significantly below the provision of area based on the Department for Education’s Building Bulletin 104. The permanent structures whilst in an acceptable condition are not of sufficient size or capable of adaptation to meet the requirements of BB104. The modular buildings are nearing the end of their life and will need to be replaced.

 

On 26th May 2020 Cabinet approved the gross allocation of £20m to rebuild the college on the college’s existing playing field (Decision reference (CAB03 20/21)).

 

As the project has progressed and on the completion of the feasibility study it has become clear that, whilst not insurmountable, various issues pose challenges to the delivery of a new building on the playing field site due to constraints and location.

 

In regular discussions about these challenges between the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills and the college’s governors and head teacher a request was made for the Council to consider alternative sites without compromising the commitment to deliver the new building by May 2023.

 

Following a review a site with the potential to be developed for a new school has been identified on vacant County Council land in Burgess Hill off Jane Murray Way (JMW) in Burgess Hill and the potential benefits of using this site have been discussed and agreed with the governors and head teacher.

 

To establish whether a less constrained and impactful build could be achieved as discussed and agreed with the governors it is proposed that a parallel feasibility study be undertaken on the JMW site for a new building to replace the current Woodlands Meed College whilst not affecting the published programme.


 

 

Decision:

(1)  The Cabinet Member for Finance has approved the release of up to £0.1m from the feasibility budget for additional feasibility work for Woodlands Meed College rebuild, and

 

(2)  the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills has approved the commissioning of a feasibility study on an alternative site at Jane Murray Way Burgess Hill for the rebuild of Woodlands Meed College whilst continuing with the project for a new building on the College’s playing field site

 

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None

Publication date: 18/09/2020

Date of decision: 18/09/2020

Effective from: 30/09/2020

Accompanying Documents: