Rochdale school set for major new-build and refurbishment scheme

Planning approval has been granted to Morgan Sindall Construction and the Department for Education for a significant new-build and refurbishment scheme at a Rochdale school.

The council has given the go-ahead to replace outdated facilities at Newhouse Academy with a new two-storey 16,100 sq m building with lobby and toilet facilities, along with associated plant and landscaping works.

The new building will incorporate a four-court sports hall, PE store, activity studio, drama studio, main hall, changing rooms, construction and design technology workshops, a dining hall, fitness studio, music rooms, science labs, graphics room, food technology room, and related spaces.

The rear of the existing main school building dates from the 1960s and will be demolished, with the water tank and substation block being refurbished. The front of the main school building that was rebuilt around 10 years ago is retained.

Plans for the scheme were submitted by DPP Planning, with the project team also including jmarchitects, Curtins and WSP.

The project is part of the first phase of the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme, which is carrying out improvement works at 500 school and sixth form colleges across England over the next decade.

The new building will be net zero carbon in operation.

Throughout its delivery of the project, Morgan Sindall will deploy its Intelligent Solutions approach, which brings together digital and platform design capabilities with modern construction methods and innovative carbon reduction tools to create unique, sustainable, and inspiring places for its customers.

Morgan Sindall’s in-house developed, digital carbon reduction tool, CarboniCa, which helps decarbonise local communities for its customers, will also be used.

This will measure whole life carbon emissions, ensuring potential carbon outputs can be managed and reduced during the design, construction and entire building lifecycle.

Shaun Jones, Morgan Sindall’s area director for Greater Manchester, said: “We’re really excited to have received approval for this project and can’t wait to get started.

“We plan to deliver a range of programmes that will bring to life the different elements that go into designing, constructing and managing a school project such as this.”

He added: “We hope the insights we share will spark the students’ curiosity about the construction industry, and perhaps inform their career choices that can be nurtured at this new facility.”

Newhouse Academy is part of Hollingworth Learning Trust, catering for students aged 11 to 16 and has a capacity of 1,050.