The new Plantsbrook School sports hall is finally beginning to take shape, after their new contractor started work on the project.
Plantsbrook School, in Upper Holland Road, Sutton Coldfield, was due to get a new sports facility as part of a £20 million rebuild of the entire site with previous contractor, Carillion.
While the impressive main school building was completed and has been in use since September 2017, the collapse of Carillion four months later meant that work on the sports hall – along with a car park, play area and landscaping – was never started.
Now contractors VolkerFitzpatrick have taken on the Plantsbrook School sports hall, and the impressive new facility is already taking shape.
“We are delighted that works have resumed, and very much look forward to their completion,” said executive headteacher, Tracy Campbell.
“While the delayed completion of the outstanding work has not been ideal for the school, since we moved into the new building, we have been able to minimise the impact to staff and students and we are working closely with the Department of Education to make sure that the works are completed as soon as practicable.”
“When we moved into the new building in 2017, the whole school got a lift out of it. Now, after such a long wait, we’re expecting to get the same boost from our new sports facilities.”
– Jason Farr
The new Plantsbrook School sports hall will also feature a high-tech classroom, where PE staff and pupils can study sports performance and technique, and a gym area.
Deputy Headteacher, Jason Farr, who has been overseeing the huge rebuild project, said the aim was to complete the hall in time for the September term this year: “It’s great to see work beginning on the hall – everyone is excited to see it going up.”
“When we moved into the new building in 2017, the whole school got a lift out of it. Now, after such a long wait, we’re expecting to get the same boost from our new sports facilities.
“It will be great to have the whole site completed, and we’re very grateful for the patience of local residents while the project was on hold for so long.”
Les Ridgwell, Operations Manager at VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “We have been working for a year in preparation of taking on this project. Everything is on schedule with the build and we are very pleased with the progress that has been made already.”
VolkerFitzpatrick Site Manager, Les Beaton added: “We are sending out a regular newsletter to local residents to keep them informed of our progress. We want to minimise disruption for them and for the school as well.”