Timescales on this project were paramount. Ridge mobilised quickly to support the school in acquiring urgent planning approval for temporary facilities which had to be installed during the summer break to allow the school to reopen in September. Within weeks we had secured the required planning consents and assisted the school with the procurement of the required temporary classrooms and associated utility services.
Ridge aided the school in letting the required demolition contracts to remove the condemned building, and assisted with an application to the Education Funding Agency (EFA) for funding to replace the failed building with a new two-storey teaching block.
We created a highly efficient building footprint which met the EFA space standards (on which the funding was based), whilst considering all site constraints. The layouts were carefully considered in the context of the wider school accommodation and the final design was reached following detailed consultation with key stakeholders.
This new building at the front of the school communicates an important message showing a positive step forward for the school. It is a real investment in the pupils, and provides a chance to learn in modern facilities with current technologies.