A recommendation has been made that will be heard at a meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Economic Development and Asset Management Committee next week.
The report seeks approval to demolish the surplus parts of the old Rushcliffe Leisure Centre at the Rushcliffe School site on Boundary Road and, for additional fees to progress the design stage of the school expansion scheme for additional school places.
Currently the site has not been in full use since Rushcliffe Arena was built to house the new leisure centre and council offices. Part of it though, is used by Nottinghamshire Gymnastics Academy – this is unaffected and will continue on a lease agreement.
The rest of the building is now in disrepair and unsafe – £2.8 million is required to demolish this part of the site.
There are two elements to the report. The first part outlines the demolition of surplus parts of the Rushcliffe Leisure Centre building that has been vacant since 2017, this includes the areas that house the swimming pool, associated changing rooms and former classrooms.
The second part of the report provides an update in respect of the design development of the current school to enable its expansion to 12 forms of entry.
TheoldRushcliffeLeisureCentrebuildingontheRushcliffeSchoolsiteisretainedinthe ownership of the Council and has been part vacant and part occupied since closure.
The sports hall is in use by the school and the Nottingham Gymnastics Association (NGA) and it is intended will be retained. Those remaining areas will be demolished as part of the proposals in the report, and in certain instances the proposals will enable better access to the retained facilities.
The design of the expanded elements of the school have continued to RIBA stage 2 and it is estimated that a planning application will be submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council in February. An agreement of the contract sum is due in July when a further report will be brought to seek approval for full funding of the scheme. Undertaking demolition works will also enable completion of accommodation for the school expansion.
The Council is to fund the additional fees being incurred and the demolition works in advance of the full cost of the school expansion scheme being identified and formal approval to the full scheme being given which will be subject to a later report.
Additional design fees to be spent to July are estimated at £373,825 and the proposed enabling and demolition works totalling £2,408,160 are identified as follows.
• Leisure Centre Services and Soft Strip – £270,000
• Installation of new HV substation – £105,000
• Services Diversion Works – £145,000
• Access alterations due to demolition – £551,600
• Leisure Centre Demolition – £626,460
• Enabling works to include landscaping and sports pitches – £710,100
The recommendation for the committee to approve the plans reads:
That approval be given to provide additional funding to Spencer Academy Trust through a Grant Funding Agreement for additional design fees and part demolition of the old Rushcliffe Leisure Centre, Rushcliffe school to the sum of £2,781,985.
County Councillor Jonathan Wheeler told The Wire: ‘This is fantastic news. We have been working for a while to get to the stage when we get to expand Rushcliffe School, and bring a large area of the school site back into use.
“Should the committee agree to the funding next week, we are a step closer to this happening.
“The school has been consulting with local residents ahead of a planning application being submitted, and I meet the School Principal on a regular basis and am excited by their plans for the new building.
“I thank the Council for their backing to help us expand this world class school, and hope the committee support the recommendation next week.”
