CLIENT: Leicester City Council
ARCHITECT: CPMG
PROGRAMME: 61 weeks

Refurbishment of a vacant former special educational needs (SEN) school building to consolidate the existing pupil referral unit (PRU) in Leicester city centre.

The client’s brief was to refurbish the former Nether Hall special school site (which previously served children and adults with significant learning and physical difficulties) to provide a Primary Pupil Referral Unit to accommodate 40 pupils. The new provision is required to provide flexible teaching and learning space for both staff and primary school pupils at Key Stage 1 and 2.

The building was a purpose-built single storey building with some two-storey height rooms, constructed circa 1970’s of a cavity brickwork construction, which had been altered and extended over its lifetime.
In order to accommodate the specialist requirements of the PRU, the project required complex remodelling of the internal accommodation. As the building stood vacant for approximately five years, there was also condition-based issues, which required attention to bring the building back into use.

Stepnell worked closely with the client and consultant team to deliver a programme of refurbishment works that included the demolition of a classroom and garage, replacement of the main hall roof, refurbishment of the remaining premises including roofs, internal classrooms, kitchen, welfare facilities and offices, and external landscaping including access improvements and playground repairs.

Social Value achievements

• £117,300K SV achieved
• 115.47% employability
• SV achieved
• Local school and college visits
• Support into work SV £1.6K
• £175K SV supporting small business
• KPIs – 100% non-hazardous waste diverted from landfill