Procurement:Layout 1 11/09/2009 16:36 Page 37
procurement
The Multi Faith centre at Allerton High School.
the requirements of the school and of BSF actually constitutes the route to
community users. achieving this, providing local authorities
Shared facilities also raise other and government consider implementing
considerations beyond security. There are wider criteria for future waves of BSF
Facilities Management considerations for that take into account a full range of
servicing and cleaning the sites, and of sustainable communities needs.
course there are energy use implications
if a site remains active into the evening, Connected policies
while transport access and parking can Policies for children’s services,
pose additional demands on sites. healthcare, welfare and housing should
all be implemented in conjunction with
wider criteria for
BSF. Meanwhile, the procurement process
for BSF should be extended to other
future waves of BSF
building types – including non-educational
local authority and private sector assets
should take into
– to reflect the evolving role of schools
in our communities.
account a full range
Ultimately such joined-up thinking will
begin to break down the ‘silo’ mentality of
of sustainable individual departments with independent
communities needs
and isolated functions. Cohesive and
sustainable regeneration – with the
education of future generations at its
Issues aside, the potential for such co- heart – will only come with collaboration.
located community facilities is enormous, The potential is of course enormous,
and when executed properly will have a and has generated some visionary ideas
real potential to redefine school facilities to illustrate the case for joined-up
not only as places for transformational thinking: St Paul’s Community School in
education, but also as a genuine heart of Tower Hamlets, for example, integrates a
the local community. number of community uses along with the
The BSF programme has of course school. By introducing additional housing
been a catalyst for this trend, and some to create a mixed use scheme, a substantial
valuable projects have been realised financial cross subsidy was introduced
nationwide. However, I believe that if BSF into the feasibility study that along with
is to be a real long-term success, much non-educational funding streams allowed
more joined up thinking is required to public facilities such as an art gallery, library,
deliver not only community-based theatre space, café, and PCT facilities to
facilities but stimulate wider regeneration be introduced into the design, creating a
around those facilities. After all, how true heart for the local community.
often is concern expressed over new and I’d argue that this ambition should
rejuvenated communities which are not guide our vision for creating the next
properly served by schools. generation of schools which are truly an
A golden opportunity is for the taking, integrated part of community life and
if we consider taking advantage of other which are the catalyst for a tide of
public assets, funding streams and sustainable regeneration.
Ground floor plan at Allerton High, showing the
private sector investment in order to
separate main entrance and multi-faith centre
deliver wider social and economic
www.wgi.co.uk
entrance (red arrows). benefits for whole community.
edbmagazine.co.uk 37
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