Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate has been made of the cost of relocating flood defences to enable a school to be built on the Bowring sports ground SE12; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
As is usual when developing proposals for a new free school, the department has undertaken various site surveys and consultations. This has informed the development of the design and provided an estimate of construction costs for the proposed new school. In this case, this includes investigating options and obtaining estimated costs to relocate part of the existing flood defences at the former Bowring Sports Ground.
At this stage, the estimated cost to relocate the existing flood defences is approximately £604,000. The proposals remain, however, subject to obtaining planning permission and the procurement of a building contractor. As such, this figure will be subject to further refinement as the plans are developed. When planning approval is achieved, the department will procure a contractor to construct the new school, and construction costs will be agreed at that time.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools in London have been damaged by fires since the 2009-10 academic year; and how many of those schools were fitted with sprinkler systems (a) prior to those fires occurring and (b) since those fires occurred; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government takes the safety of pupils and staff seriously. All schools have to follow strict fire safety regulations, including having a Fire Risk Assessment, designed to ensure that they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.
Where sprinklers are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe, following an assessment of risk at the design stage, or to meet local planning requirements, they must be fitted. All new school building projects must comply with Building Regulations, including on fire safety, and this must be independently checked by Building Control or an Approved Inspector before buildings are occupied.
The Department does not collect data on the number of school fires. The Home Office publishes fire statistics on GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics. These are taken from data supplied by the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) and includes information on educational establishments.
As not all new schools are commissioned by the Department, we do not hold data on the number of all new schools that have been built with or without sprinklers installed. We do hold information on the centrally funded Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP). Of the 32 schools rebuilt in phase one of the PSBP in London, two include sprinkler systems. We do not hold comprehensive data on the number of Free Schools fitted with sprinklers as schools developed under the Free Schools programme were originally managed by the individual free school proposer groups.
The Department does not liaise directly with the FRS, including the London Fire Brigade, in the design of new school buildings. The Department commissions the design and build of schools under its central programmes and the FRS may be consulted by Building Control officers or contractors on individual projects whenever necessary.
Alongside the rest of Government, the Department will take forward findings from the independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools in London have been (a) built and (b) refurbished through funding from the Education Funding Agency; how many of those schools have been fitted with sprinkler systems; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government takes the safety of pupils and staff seriously. All schools have to follow strict fire safety regulations, including having a Fire Risk Assessment, designed to ensure that they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.
Where sprinklers are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe, following an assessment of risk at the design stage, or to meet local planning requirements, they must be fitted. All new school building projects must comply with Building Regulations, including on fire safety, and this must be independently checked by Building Control or an Approved Inspector before buildings are occupied.
The Department does not collect data on the number of school fires. The Home Office publishes fire statistics on GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics. These are taken from data supplied by the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) and includes information on educational establishments.
As not all new schools are commissioned by the Department, we do not hold data on the number of all new schools that have been built with or without sprinklers installed. We do hold information on the centrally funded Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP). Of the 32 schools rebuilt in phase one of the PSBP in London, two include sprinkler systems. We do not hold comprehensive data on the number of Free Schools fitted with sprinklers as schools developed under the Free Schools programme were originally managed by the individual free school proposer groups.
The Department does not liaise directly with the FRS, including the London Fire Brigade, in the design of new school buildings. The Department commissions the design and build of schools under its central programmes and the FRS may be consulted by Building Control officers or contractors on individual projects whenever necessary.
Alongside the rest of Government, the Department will take forward findings from the independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what advice she has received from the London Fire Brigade on fitting sprinklers in schools which are being refurbished or newly built; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government takes the safety of pupils and staff seriously. All schools have to follow strict fire safety regulations, including having a Fire Risk Assessment, designed to ensure that they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.
Where sprinklers are deemed necessary to keep pupils and staff safe, following an assessment of risk at the design stage, or to meet local planning requirements, they must be fitted. All new school building projects must comply with Building Regulations, including on fire safety, and this must be independently checked by Building Control or an Approved Inspector before buildings are occupied.
The Department does not collect data on the number of school fires. The Home Office publishes fire statistics on GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics. These are taken from data supplied by the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) and includes information on educational establishments.
As not all new schools are commissioned by the Department, we do not hold data on the number of all new schools that have been built with or without sprinklers installed. We do hold information on the centrally funded Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP). Of the 32 schools rebuilt in phase one of the PSBP in London, two include sprinkler systems. We do not hold comprehensive data on the number of Free Schools fitted with sprinklers as schools developed under the Free Schools programme were originally managed by the individual free school proposer groups.
The Department does not liaise directly with the FRS, including the London Fire Brigade, in the design of new school buildings. The Department commissions the design and build of schools under its central programmes and the FRS may be consulted by Building Control officers or contractors on individual projects whenever necessary.
Alongside the rest of Government, the Department will take forward findings from the independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham and Chislehurst)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2017 to Question 107527, whether the need to fund the relocation of flood protection earthworks at the Bowring sports ground SE12 resulted in the purchase of the site being judged novel, contentious or repercussive; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Pursuant to the answer to PQ107527, the purchase of the site has not yet been completed; it remains subject to obtaining planning consent. The Red Book Valuation of the site was within the threshold agreed with HM Treasury, therefore approval was not required for the exchange of contracts for the former Bowring Sports Ground.
The department was aware of the site conditions at the point of exchanging contracts e.g. the site is designated Metropolitan Open Land and has Flood Zone 3 status. As is usual, the subsequent design development required for a planning application has considered those site conditions, including the proposal to relocate part of the flood defence wall. Design development is part of the usual process for developing proposals for free school projects. Prior to submitting the planning application, the department will assess the revised cost plan associated with those proposals. At this time, the proposals are not considered novel, contentious or repercussive.