Multi-million pound school for Rochdale pupils

Deeplish Primary School.

School pupils in Rochdale are set to benefit from a new multi-million pound building project.

A brand new £2.9 million school will be finished by Christmas at Deeplish Primary School following a decision to rebuild it.

Plans to remodel and refurbish the school in 2008 were halted following concerns about the cost of temporary accommodation.

The new school will be built behind the existing building within the grounds on Hare Street in an almost identical layout to the 2008 plans.

Councillor Surinder Biant, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said: “The new build allows us to design a school which provides accommodation and facilities tailored to the school’s needs and will increase the life expectancy of the building.

“It also eliminates substantial disruption to pupils’ education associated with the move into alternative accommodation.”

The current one storey building was built in the 1970s, with an extension added in 1987.

Under the 2008 plans a first floor was to be added to a portion of the building, with staff and pupils moved to temporary on site facilities during construction.

The new proposals are expected to improve the use of space, flow of the school, future learning requirements and energy efficiencies.

Andrew Storey, Account Manager of Impact Partnership, who are managing the project, said: “The costs for the temporary accommodation put in jeopardy the affordability of the whole scheme.

“After careful consideration using the tender process, we worked closely with the successful contractor, to identify and design a new build option that was financially viable and would deliver far better value for money in terms of life cycle costs and sustainability.”

Deeplish is the last new build primary school in the borough to benefit from the Government’s Primary Capital Programme.

The work will be carried out by Rochdale-based building contractor Jackson.

Kieren McDonnell, Jackson’s Operations Director, said: “We are extremely proud to have been awarded the contract to build this local school. This will secure local employment and help support our local supply chain.

“We look forward to handing over the keys to the new Deeplish Primary School in time for Christmas 2011.”