Client: Little Lever School
Location: Bolton
Sector: Education
Services: Project Management / School Building Consultancy
Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors were appointed by Lever Academy Trust to provide project management services for Phase 1 of an expansion project at Little Lever School in Bolton. The project was undertaken in partnership with Lever Academy Trust and Bolton Council to address a shortage of secondary school places within the borough. With Pupil numbers set to increase from 1,050 to 1,200 over a five-year period, the school required additional accommodation to support an extra 30 pupils per year, whilst also enhancing facilities that were becoming undersized for the growing school population. Completed in April 2026 by W Monks (Longridge) Limited, the scheme forms the first stage of a wider two-phase expansion programme.
Schedule of works
The project involved the construction of a new two-storey extension, creating an improved frontage of the school and providing approximately 480m2 of additional accommodation across two floors. At ground level, the extension delivered a significantly enlarged dining room, which was previously an under-sized catering facility which no longer had sufficient capacity to serve the school’s growing population. The first floor provides two specialist teaching classrooms alongside associated offices, smaller teaching areas, group rooms, resource areas and a medical room. The scheme also included the installation of a passenger lift, new circulation spaces and a stairwell, ensuring the building is fully accessible and capable of supporting the school’s future expansion plans.
Our role
Lea Hough provided a comprehensive range of consultancy services throughout the project, supporting the school from the initial planning stages through to completion. Our involvement included preparing outline design and feasibility proposals, developing budget cost estimates, undertaking the detailed design and specification of the works, and managing the tender process. We also fulfilled the role of Contract Administrator and Principal Designer under the CDM Regulations, while securing Planning Permission and Building Regulations approval. In addition, our team liaised closely with Bolton Council regarding project funding requirements, helping to ensure the successful delivery of the expansion programme.
Outcome
The completed extension has enabled Little Lever School to increase its capacity and accommodate future pupil growth, supporting Bolton Council’s strategy to provide additional secondary school places across the borough. The new teaching accommodation provides modern and flexible learning environments for students, while the enlarged dining facilities enhance the day-to-day experience for the wider school community. Improved accessibility measures, including lift access between floors, ensure the building is inclusive for all users. As Phase 1 of a wider two-stage expansion programme, the project has laid the foundations for the school’s continued growth and development. Overall, the scheme has delivered significant long-term benefits for both staff and students while helping to meet increasing local demand for high-quality secondary education places.
