Lea Hough has been overseeing a significant expansion project at Castercliff Primary Academy in Burnley. Work at the school, which is part of Pendle Education Trust, is being funded by the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).
Project background
Castercliff Primary Academy has become overcrowded with a current pupil roll of 402, but with capacity for just 315 pupils.
The overcrowding meant the school was struggling accommodate its pupils, leading to several issues. For example, the school had to convert its staffroom into classroom, with the staff using a store room off the hall on a temporary basis for making drinks, etc. The school hall would be used as a part-time staffroom when not in use for dining or PE.
Lea Hough’s School Building Consultants worked with the school to apply for and successfully obtain funds for the extension project via the Condition Improvement Fund.
The extension will provide two new classrooms and additional toilet provisions for the school. The Gross Internal Floor area of the extension is 207m2. Each classroom will be 60m2, accommodating 30 pupils in each classroom – so 60 pupils in total.
Lea Hough’s Role
As the school’s Building Consultant, our role firstly involved developing the initial proposals, preparing the CIF funding application on the School’s behalf and obtaining funding approval, as well as Planning Permission. We then prepared specification/ tender documentation and performed a competitive tender exercise for the project. We then performed the role of Contract Administrator, overseeing the contractor’s works on site, attending meetings, managing costs, etc. We also performed the role of Principal Designer in accordance with the CDM Regulations.
Whilst Lea Hough has a strong track record of achieving funding via the CIF, it is fairly unusual to ascertain funding for an extension (expansion project) under CIF Funding, with only 15% of the entire funding pot being awarded to expansion projects. We are therefore extremely proud of this project and the role our team have played in helping to provide much-needed space for both the students and teachers at Castercliff.
The project is on track for a completion date of the end of September 2024.
