New Nelson school will cost an extra £1m (From Lancashire Telegraph)

New Nelson school will cost an extra £1m

2:43pm Friday 8th June 2012 in News

THE cost of building the new Whitefield Primary School in Nelson has increased by more than £1million, it has been revealed.

Lancashire County Council will now spend £8.2million on the school, which includes the expansion work, temporary accommodation and improvement at the nearby Lomeshaye Junior School.

The increase in costs has been put down to the 21-month delay in the project following a protracted planning process, with objections from English Heritage, North West Heritage and SAVE.

Stephen Riley, from Lancashire County Council, said: “The significant delay and additional cost of employing specialist consultants has inevitably led to an increase in the cost of the project currently estimated at £1,067,243.

“Officers from the Directorate for Children and Young People and Corporate Property Group have already had discussions with the authority’s framework contractor and have reduced the revised costs for building works from £6,360,891 to £5,799,679.

“They will continue to scrutinise work packages to further reduce costs where possible.”

Other reasons for the increased costs include the requirement to re-use significant amounts of building materials from the properties being demolished to make way for the school.

Mr Riley added: “A report submitted to the cabinet member for schools in June 2010, indicated an anticipated completion date of April 2012. The current programme indicates that the new Whitefield building will not be ready for occupation until January 2014; a delay of 21 months.”