Salford City Council has approved the spending of an additional £350,000 on Salford City Academy’s expansion after the Covid pandemic price rises already put the project over budget. The additional funding has now seen the council contribution hit £2 million, £500,000 more than what was originally planned.
The project’s initial budget was £1.85 million - £350,000 of which was provided by the United Learning Trust, who run a number of schools in the borough.
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Due to the increase in cost of materials (30 per cent), there was an additional £150,000 provided back in 2021, which saw the council contribution hit £1.65 million. The works were required in order to assist the local authority in meeting the growing secondary pupil demand.
A council report said: “Phase 1 of these works have now been completed, with phase 2 works underway, with an estimated revised completion at the end of July 2022.
“Although initially starting later than planned, Phase 1 works, which involved remodelling of the existing teaching space, were delivered within budget, and on time. As part of the phase 2 dining expansion works, ground investigation works were required.
“It was at this stage where it was identified that several existing utility services would need to be diverted before expansion works could commence.
“There would be additional costs associated with the diversion works, which had not been factored into the overall indicative budget or included in the awarded contractors tender.
“The diversion of utilities also meant that expansion works to the dining area would need to be pushed back with a revised delivery completion date being approved.
“As a consequence and in order to ensure the school could remain operational, it was necessary to extend the rental lease of the temporary dining/kitchen that was required to be in place whilst the expansion works were underway.
“This has resulted in additional rental costs and contractor preliminary fees.”
Councillor Jim Cammell, lead member for children and young people’s services, who approved these additional funds, has previously explained that Salford’s economic boom was leading to more families moving into the city and pushing the demand for school places.
“Over the last four years our secondary schools have created 467 extra Year 7 places across the city and will add another 172 places for children starting high school this September’s intake,” he said.
“Council forecasts indicate a need for another 490 Year 7 places between 2023 and 2027. The new 750 place Star Academy in Little Hulton, which is being delivered by the government and is expected to open in September 2023, will have an intake of 150 pupils per year and will help meet some of this growth.
“We will continue to work closely with academies and schools to identify ways to provide more places over the next five years.”
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