Latest news with #SustainableCommunitiesforLearning
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Caerphilly school project costs increase nearly £3 million
The county borough council's leader who made the remark, Cllr Sean Morgan, said inflation rises in construction were 'certainly higher' than those faced by consumers. The redevelopment of Plasyfelin Primary School, in Caerphilly town, was initially estimated to cost £20.48 million, but has now risen to £23.25 million. Caerphilly County Borough Council, which is providing around a third of the overall funding for the rebuild, has seen its contribution increase by an extra £1.76 million. The authority's cabinet members approved the budget increase at a meeting on Wednesday July 23. Cllr Carol Andrews, the cabinet member for education, said 'further site investigations, design confirmations, and inflation in the construction sector' had all played a part in driving up the bill. Most of the council's extra spending will come from an unallocated capital grant, while the remainder will come from a separate education capital fund. The redevelopment of Plasyfelin Primary will begin this summer, and take place in phases – with some children learning in temporary classrooms during the construction period. Cllr Jamie Pritchard, the council's deputy leader, said the community was 'very much in favour' of the project, which is taking place in his Morgan Jones ward. Plasyfelin is being funded through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, and the Welsh Government will foot around two-thirds of the bill – as well as any contributions towards net-zero carbon elements of the project. Andrea West, the council's Sustainable Communities for Learning service manager, said the government had provided a 'verbal approval they are happy to proceed' with the increased budget. Cllr Morgan added the extra costs represented a 'slight uplift to pay for a brand-new school'.
South Wales Argus
19-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Pontypool Welsh-medium school to receive major investment
Ysgol Bryn Onnen in Varteg, Pontypool, will undergo a multi-million pound refurbishment as part of long-term plans to improve Welsh-medium education in the area. The project will be funded through a Welsh Government Sustainable Communities for Learning grant and supported by Torfaen County Borough Council. Rhys ap Gwyn, headteacher at Ysgol Bryn Onnen, said: "The news of the investment and update from Estyn made our 30th anniversary celebrations even more special. "We're looking forward to planning for the next 30 years of providing excellent Welsh medium education in our community." Site surveys will take place over the summer, with work expected to begin next July and finish by October 2027. The investment follows positive feedback from Estyn, which recently confirmed the school is no longer under review after making 'sufficient progress' on recommendations from its last inspection. Dr Andrew Powles, director of education, said: "I am pleased Estyn has recognised the good and sustained progress made by Ysgol Bryn Onnen over the past year. "The school's leadership team and governing body have driven improvements across many areas which gave Estyn confidence that the school is offering a good standard of education to its pupils." Councillor Richard Clark, executive member for children, families and education, said: "We are pleased with the progress Ysgol Bryn Onnen has made and pleased that Estyn has recognised this."
South Wales Argus
12-07-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
£70m net-zero carbon school officially opens in Abergavenny
King Henry VIII 3-19 School in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, is the first operationally net-zero carbon all-through school in Wales. Funded by Monmouthshire County Council and the Welsh Government through the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme, the project marks a major investment in sustainable education. Cllr Laura Wright, Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet member for education, said: "This building is more than bricks and mortar. "It's a beacon for a modern education system in Wales, designed to inspire, to nurture, and to empower our young people." An official opening took place on July 10 and was attended by Welsh Government cabinet secretary for education Lynne Neagle. Ms Neagle said: "As our first operationally net-zero carbon all-through school, not only will our learners benefit from high-quality facilities, but they will also benefit from learning in a sustainable school environment. "What has been achieved here is truly inspiring for our learners." The school's through-school strategy was showcased with performances from pupils of all ages. Monmouthshire County Council was also named Client of the Year at the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards for its leadership on the project. The council will now represent Wales at the UK National Awards later this year.
Business News Wales
11-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Monmouthshire Celebrates Official Opening of Flagship All-Through School
Morgan Sindall Construction's King Henry VIII 3-19 School at Old Hereford Rd, NP7 6EP, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales on 16 April 2025. Photo: Adam Davies ©2025 Adam Davies Photography, All Rights Reserved. Monmouthshire County Council has officially opened the new King Henry VIII three-19 School in Abergavenny. The event, attended by Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle, Monmouthshire County Council Leader Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, MCC Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Laura Wright, and a host of dignitaries, staff, and pupils, celebrated the completion of the first operationally net-zero carbon all-through school in Wales. The £70 million project, jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Monmouthshire County Council under the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme and constructed by Morgan Sindall, represents a bold investment in the future of education in the region, the council said. Monmouthshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Laura Wright, said: 'This building is more than bricks and mortar. It's a beacon for a modern education system in Wales, designed to inspire, to nurture, and to empower our young people.' Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle said: 'I was delighted to visit King Henry VIII School for the official opening and witness this remarkable investment that was made possible through our Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. As our first operationally net-zero carbon all-through school, not only will our learners benefit from high quality facilities, but they will also benefit from learning in a sustainable school environment. What has been achieved here is truly inspiring for our learners.' The ceremony featured performances from pupils across all ages, showcasing the school's through school strategy. Guests enjoyed performances from the cast of the school's production of Les Misérables, a dance performance by pupils in Years 1 and 2, as well as performances from the Primary Phase and All-Age Choirs. Adding to the celebration, Monmouthshire County Council was recently named 'Client of the Year' at the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards, held at Celtic Manor. The award recognises the council's exemplary leadership and collaborative approach throughout the King Henry VIII project. Judges praised the council's unwavering focus on quality, sustainability, and community impact, noting that the project sets a benchmark for public sector delivery. As winners of the Welsh award, the council will now represent Wales at the UK-wide Constructing Excellence National Awards later this year. Monmouthshire County Council's Leader, Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, noted: 'It's an honour to be named as 'Client of the Year'. As a council, we wanted to ensure that this project not only delivered a building for the next few years, but one that will shape education within the town and county for generations to come. The award highlights our dedication to achieving this, and we look forward to representing Wales at the UK National awards.' Phase two of the project, which includes the completion of the playing fields and the energy centre, is scheduled for completion by April 2026.
Wales Online
06-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Latest plans to transform what was once the biggest public sector housing scheme in Wales
Latest plans to transform what was once the biggest public sector housing scheme in Wales Trivallis expects to submit an application for 150 homes in Penrhys this month which are part of wider regeneration plans for the area (Image: WalesOnline/ Gayle Marsh ) An application for 150 houses as part of plans to regenerate what was once the largest public sector housing scheme in Wales could be submitted this month. Housing association Trivallis intends to submit a planning application in June for what they call phase 1A of the Penrhys regeneration proposals in the Rhondda which involves an area in the northwest of the site with this phase involving the construction of up to 150 new homes with a mix of affordable housing, including new homes for existing residents, and homes for sale with demolition of existing buildings in this area already underway. It is expected that an outline planning application for the development of the wider masterplan area will be submitted in early in 2026. A report to cabinet on Wednesday, June 11 also recommends that authority be given to the director of corporate estates to negotiate the sale and transfer of the land within the existing estate area that is currently in council ownership to Trivallis. It is also recommended that cabinet members agree that the council owned land to south is included in the wider masterplan now and also be transferred at an appropriate time. The Penrhys Estate was first developed in 1966 as a modern housing development and on opening in 1968 with 951 new homes was at the time the largest public sector housing scheme in Wales. Article continues below The report says that during the late 1970s and 1980s, for a range of reasons, the estate gained a poor reputation and has been in decline ever since but a strong, small community still exists in Penrhys. In 2007 the site transferred ownership from the council to RCT Homes, now Trivallis. As of today, there are around 230 tenanted homes left at the site, there are several streets where the housing condition is poor and current estimates show that a repair programme to acceptable standards is likely to be uneconomical. To get all the latest Rhondda news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here. The report said that the 'high level of voids impacts adversely on the overall environment at the estate.' In 2021, cabinet agreed the principle of developing a regeneration plan for Penrhys and since then Trivallis has assembled a design team and has carried out site investigation work with a view to developing a site-wide masterplan that will feed into future planning applications. In March this year, cabinet received an update on the council's Sustainable Communities for Learning (SCfL) nine year rolling programme and the latest strategic outline programme which included approval for a new school at Penrhys to replace the poor quality existing buildings on the Penrhys Primary School site. The cabinet report said that the spend on the new school will act as 'a major facilitator in the wider regeneration aspirations for the site.' Trivallis has already held a series of engagement sessions with residents to explain their ideas and gather the views of the community and it is expected that these sessions will continue as plans develop. The report says that the council will also engage with the community as part of its normal process for developing the new school at the site. The regeneration of Penrhys is a key site in the development of the council's new local development plan (LDP) and the site is set to be included in the council's preferred strategy for the revised LDP and will be taken forward to the next stage of the preparation of the plan. The report said that Trivallis and their agents are currently in the process of procuring a development partner/housebuilder for the wider regeneration proposals and it is expected that the majority of the new homes will be advertised for sale on the open market with the remainder being offered as affordable housing and new homes for the existing community. The council still owns several parcels of land throughout the estate and the wider masterplan area, including a significant area of land to the south of the main roundabout. The report says: 'Taking a comprehensive and coherent approach to the development of the site should result in a successful and sustainable outcome and to this end it is considered that this will be best achieved with all the available land within the existing estate area sitting with Trivallis and their development partner. 'As such, it is recommended that this report gives authority to the director of corporate estates to negotiate the sale/transfer of the land within the existing estate area that is currently in council ownership to Trivallis, subject to our usual legal and financial procedures. 'It is also recommended that members agree to the council owned land to south being included in the wider masterplan now and also be transferred to Trivallis/developer at an appropriate time in the best interests of the council and the wider community.' On the new school, the council has carried out a feasibility and options appraisal to build the new school on the existing school site, and further work to take this project forward will happen over the next few months. It is currently expected that the planning process for the new school will start next year. The report said: 'Works will be developed in collaboration with the school and local community to make sure that this project remains at the heart of the wider regeneration proposals, making it a true community school. Article continues below
