Issue details

Woodlands Meed College Site, Burgess Hill - Allocation of Funding for Design Fees

Woodlands Meed is a Special School and College for 2-19 year olds located in Burgess Hill.  This report sets out the potential options to improve accommodation for the 15-19 year old pupils who are currently educated at the Woodlands Meed College site in Birchwood Grove Road, Burgess Hill.

 

The existing accommodation has significant suitability and condition issues meaning the College is unable to offer the full curriculum and unable to accommodate the full range of Special Educational Needs.  This currently results in the need for young people to be educated in costly placements in the independent non-maintained school sector.

 

Following a feasibility study to assess different potential solutions for improving the College it is proposed that the County Council develops the proposal to rebuild Woodlands Meed College on its current site and expand it by an additional 30 planned places from 100 to 130.  In order to progress this option it is necessary to appoint a design team through the County Council’s Multi-Disciplinary Consultant to undertake the design work required to develop the feasibility design into a formal proposal. This will entail the submission of a planning application and for all construction works to be fully designed, enabling costs to be sought for all elements of the proposal including construction, ICT, and furniture and equipment.

 

Once all costs are known, the Full Business Case for the project will be considered within the County Council’s Capital Programme governance.  Should this result in the development of a proposal to proceed it will be subject to the Key Decision process.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: Hassocks & Burgess Hill South;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 21/12/2018

Decision due: February 2019 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

Lead member: Councillor Richard Burrett richard.burrett@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Leigh Hunnikin, Project Manager Email: leigh.hunnikin@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 23051.

Consultation process

Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, via the author or officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken

Consultees

School.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders - 033 022 22553

Background3: Best Start in Life

Decisions

Background papers

  • None