Redevelopment of Birmingham academy to be put before council

Proposals for the redevelopment of King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy are to be assessed by Birmingham City Council tomorrow.

The plans by BAM Construction would replace all existing accommodation, but retain the recently constructed Sixth Form block, to provide new high quality teaching and community facilities.

The proposals form part of the Department for Education’s £1bn ‘School Rebuilding Programme’ that looks to undertake major rebuilding and refurbishment projects targeted at school and sixth form college buildings that are considered to be in deteriorating condition.

The DfE is bringing forward 50 school rebuilding projects as well as 21 new free schools. More than 70% of the schools in the North and Midlands.

A number of existing school buildings at King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy would be demolished and replaced with with two and three storey buildings, alongside outdoor recreation and teaching space, and car parking areas.

The application also includes the construction of temporary teaching accommodation to enable the school to remain fully operational throughout construction.

A building survey has been undertaken by BAM which has revealed that the existing 1960’s building is not sufficient for the school to deliver its curriculum in several key areas.

This is due to “inefficient spatial configurations, poor movement between blocks, and a lack of external space”. The survey also found that the school has limited space that can be used by the community.

The current planned site set up at the Academy is scheduled for February 2023 with final phase of construction completing late 2025.