£300k invested to replace chilly classrooms at Chalkwell Hall Infants School

January 15, 2019 by Leigh-on-sea.com

Councillors are to consider investing £300k to replace three ageing wooden huts at Chalkwell Hall Infant School with new energy-efficient classrooms.

The scheme would see the replacement of three demountable classrooms which are 39 years old, with new modern buildings to house four classrooms, together with new LED lighting, solar panels, boiler room insulation and in-classroom heating controls in the main building.

The existing classrooms are extremely poor in their heating and insulation making it difficult to heat the rooms in winter and to keep them cool in the summer. 

The total scheme cost would be £485,000, with £100,000 of this from the school’s capital programme and £85,000 financed by an interest-free loan taken out by the school.

Of the council’s contribution, £110k will be met through a government grant, with the remaining £190k coming from corporate borrowing, with the revenues generated (from energy savings and generation) covering the cost of financing.

Cllr Helen Boyd, cabinet member for children and learning, said: “The existing temporary classrooms are now approaching 40 years old and are not fit for purpose.

“This project would result in modern, energy-efficient facilities that will provide a much improved and more comfortable learning environment while reducing the energy bills in the long term. The work will also contribute to the fulfilment of the objectives of our EU 2Impresz project.” 

The draft budget will be considered by the council’s cabinet this week (Thursday 17 January), consulted on and go through the council’s scrutiny committees, with the final budget to be discussed and approved at Full Council on Thursday 21 February 2018.