Wave 2 Children’s Centres Programme

The Wave Two Children’s Centre Programme consisted of providing 5 new children’s centres built under three separate contracts with three separate contractors. The programme included new build, refurbishment and extension of existing buildings all on  existing primary school sites.

Services

Playle & Partners LLP were appointed to carry out feasibility studies for 10 new children’s centres at Lambeth primary schools. The brief for the Wave Two programme of children centres was to provide accommodation for crèche, child & adult wc’s, crèche kitchen, meeting room/training room/office, buggy store, separate entrance, outdoor play area & covered play area. From these studies Lambeth selected 5 Sure Start children’s centres to be constructed under the Wave Two programme. The construction values ranged from £125,000 (refurbishment of old nursery) to £900,000 (new build centre with extension and refurbishment of old nursery building).

The outline budget for the five children’s centres at feasibility stage was £2.1 million. The five feasibility studies chosen to be built were presented to all stakeholders and a consultation process took place where staff, governors, parents, pupils and the local community were encouraged to attend and participate in design workshops. From this process final designs were approved and planning and building regulations were made. Playle & Partners LLP produced three tender packages and the successful tenders were approved and contracts appointed in October 2007. The total value of the combined contract sums was £2.2 million and contracts let were JCT IFC 2005 with contractors design (M&E) and in one case incorporating sectional completion. Works started  on the sites in November 2007 and all centres were completed on time by mid August 2008. Final accounts for the five centres were agreed at a total value of £2,175,000.

Heathbrook Children’s Centre:

Demolition of existing caretakers house and replacement with new purpose built children’s centre. Centre provided crèche, kitchen, child and disabled wc’s, large flexible meeting room capable of being subdivided into two separate rooms, outdoor play  area and covered play space.

Rosendale Children’s and Babies Centre:

Refurbishment of existing nursery building and large extension (120% increase in foot print). The Rosendale scheme provided two dedicated crèche areas, two sets of children’s, adults and disabled wc’s, office, kitchen, a large flexible meeting room capable of being subdivided into two separate rooms, office, quiet room, reception, two outdoor play areas with covered play areas and stores and utility areas.

Streatham Wells Children’s Centre:

Refurbishment and extension of the existing single store caretakers bungalow to provide crèche, kitchen, toilet, meeting room facilities, garden with outside and covered play spaces Woodmansterne Children’s Centre: Conversion and extension of an old changing room facility to provide a large children’s centre with a physical link to the existing on site nursery. The Woodmansterne scheme provided accommodation similar to the other centres but included a large shared space linking the centre to the nursery to be used as a dining facility and breakfast club. In addition to this a purpose made changing room facility with male and female showers, wc’s and changing areas was provided to replace the old converted facility.

Jessop Children’s Centre:

Refurbishment and internal alterations of an old disused nursery building. Works included new heating, electrics, double glazed windows, toilet & kitchen facilities, suspended ceilings, low energy lighting and environmentally 100% recyclable flooring.

The centres incorporated several innovative products including purpose made baby changing stations and sustainable items such as air source heat pumps to heat and cool the buildings and natural linseed flooring. Best Value points included the innovative reuse of old buildings, contract packaging and the development of a repeatable specification covering all of the centres.