A SCHOOL has submitted ambitious plans for a major redevelopment of its site.
The proposal for Ilkley Grammar School (IGS) includes the demolition of several existing teaching and sports blocks and their replacement with a new teaching block, multi-use game areas, sports hall and swimming pool facilities, the refurbishment of the Marshall Building, as well as external works for landscaping and car parking.
The major redevelopment programme of the Cowpasture Road school will be funded through the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme.
IGS was approved for funding in the third round of the school rebuilding programme in July 2022 - one of 61 schools announced and the only one in the Bradford district.
In a design and access statement submitted to the council, architects Bond Bryan, the firm which is leading the project, lays out the reasons for the work and the proposed changes.
The document says the project is part of the Department for Education’s (DfE) Schools Rebuilding Programme, which seeks to carry out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects across England. Buildings are prioritised according to their condition.
IGS is a non-selective academy, with 1,972 secondary school pupils aged between 11 and 18, including 460 spaces for post-16 pupils.
The document says: “The site comprises 16 discrete buildings and temporary accommodation.
"Whilst Bronte, Armitage, and the newly built SEND facilities are suitable for modern teaching and curriculum, following an extensive period of consultation and surveys, it has been concluded that most of the other buildings are in either poor condition, or otherwise non-compliant."
The document says the project "provides the opportunity to consolidate and improve the IGS estate" and adds: “Through collaboration with the DfE, Ilkley Grammar School’s brief is to replace the proposed demolished blocks with approximately 9,000m2 of high-quality sport and teaching accommodation, with Armitage, and Bronte retained, and the Marshall Building refurbished.”
This will maintain the existing pupil capacity of 1,972 and the staff of 215.
The report says that the new design has been developed following extensive consultation with the DfE and the school, and the proposals “are an outcome of all the feedback received from stakeholders and the school, and the constraints and opportunities posed by the existing site”.
The architects added that a community consultation event took place on October 9, with more than 200 letters sent out to people living in properties neighbouring the school and local councillors and community groups informed.
They said that 198 people attended the event and 158 people provided comments, which have fed into the design process.
The document adds: “Consultation will continue throughout the planning process, therefore providing communications continuity and reassurance into construction.”
Though the existing tennis courts, sports hall, and swimming pool are being demolished, they are to be replaced with an equal quantum of higher specification to Sport England and DfE design guidance, says Bond Bryan.
The phased building schedules will allow the use of the existing sports hall until the new one has been constructed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here