New school building work gets underway
Work is now well underway on the construction of the new primary school at Kingsway.
With the planners having now given the go ahead for an extra 650 homes on at a later stage of Kingsway’s development, the education facilities to serve this exciting new destination are now very much a priority for many current and, of course, potential residents.
The £4m+ works are being carried out by Speller-Metcalfe of Malvern for QUVL, the company operating Kingsway on behalf of leading UK builders Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon, and Commercial development company, the Cheltenham based Robert Hitchins Group.
A second primary school is also planned on Kingsway at a later stage of the development.
The school is part of a provision of £6.6m has been made to assist with education by QUVL for Kingsway, which also includes a contribution towards secondary education provision in the City of Gloucester.
The money being made available for secondary education will be spent on extra provision within the schools directly serving the south Gloucester area, which includes the new Kingsway development. This financial support was part of the planning permission given to QUVL to develop the new Kingsway destination.
The new school building, which covers some 2,000 square metres, has been designed by Gloucester-based architects, Quattro Design.
The building reflects the spirit of the old RAF depot, which once operated on the Kingsway development. It has angled roof shapes that mirror aeroplane wings and there is extensive use of glass throughout the building. It is light and airy and planned in such a way that many classrooms look out onto attractive courtyards. The school is being built of environmentally sustainable materials and features roof solar panels for heating water within the building.
As much attention is being paid to the immediate environs of the school. There are to be playing fields around the building and a specially planned and prepared area where children can experience, enjoy and learn about the many aspects of wildlife and nature.
What they say...
Jackie Hall, Gloucestershire County Councillor
“Kingsway is certainly growing and becoming the county’s fastest growing new development area - with hundreds of homes already occupied and further development now pressing ahead, we need as soon as possible to bring on stream many vital facilities such as this school to serve this exciting new community.”
Julian Powell, Chairman of the new school Board of Governors
“The local area really wants to see this new school open as soon as possible - there is also much anticipation regarding the not-too-distant availability of playing field areas to service this locality.”
Adrian Speller, Speller Metcalf
“We have a very clear schedule of works and are well aware how much the completion and availability of this new school is being anticipated in this fast growing area. We’re making excellent progress and it won’t be too long before the structure of this new building will be clearly visible to the residents here. We’re confident we’ll have the school ready for its first term next September.”
Linda Martin, Quattro Design
“The school reflects the kind of environment that will in every respect stimulate and encourage all Kingsway’s young children in their work and play.”
Andrew Poole, Kingsway’s Principal Project Manager
“The new school is much anticipated by those living on the development now and by those who decide to make their new home on Kingsway in the future. The new school is an exciting, attractive, original and modern building, very much in step with all that is going on here, all of which is serving to make Kingsway the ultimate modern day living environment.”