New plans for Wiltshire school unveiled (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

New plans for Wiltshire school unveiled

PLANS for an innovative new primary school for Malmesbury, with growing plants used as a roof covering and a school hall for joint use with the community, were unveiled on Tuesday.

The plans submitted to North Wiltshire District Council are said to be unique in the county. The two-storey curved design resembles an 'S' or question mark and includes a partial 'green' roof where Sedum (a low growing alpine plant) will be used as a roofing material to provide insulation and weather proofing.

As well as replacing the existing building the new school will replace a number of temporary classrooms at the present primary school.

The two-storey structure will mean that the 'footprint' of the new school will be small, taking up less room on the site than a single storey building and allowing more outdoor sports and recreation space to be retained.

The new building is also planned for a low-lying part of the site and surrounded by mature trees to reduce the visual impact on neighbouring properties.

The current school buildings will continue to be used until the new building is ready. If planning permission is approved and the building work goes to plan the new school could open as early 2008.

For safety reasons during construction a separate vehicle access will mean that construction vehicles will not have to share access with parents and children going to and from the school.

Wiltshire County Council cabinet member for education, Nancy Bryant, said: "This is an exciting project for Malmesbury. If it is given the go-ahead Malmesbury will have a fantastic new primary school to match the new secondary school built a few years ago."

Headteacher, Jeff Staton, said: "All the governors, staff and children are very excited about the unique plans for what should be a fantastic new primary school for Malmesbury.

"It has taken some time, but we have worked well with the county council and the architect to produce what will be a wonderful, innovative and vibrant school for future generations.

"We have managed to create a plan that will provide a 14 class school, big enough for the town while retaining the playing fields and increasing the size of the playground area.

"We are proud of the plans and eagerly await the day our shared dream is turned into reality."

School governor Tristan Cork said that one of the most exciting aspects of the plan was the media and technology centre.

"We have combined the space allocated for a computer room, a library and the creative arts into one big room which will be the first of its kind in Wiltshire and will give us space to incorporate up-to-the minute technology, including in-house tv and interactive whiteboards linked to a computer network," he told the Standard.

"I hope the parents and residents of Malmesbury will like the plans and we look forward to getting on with the task of building it."