Powys County Council are looking for a new contractor to build a new £9.1 million special school after parting ways with the previous company.

The council has said it will be seeking new contractors to build the new facility for Brynllywarch Hall School in Kerry near Newtown.

A new tender process will be carried out after the council decided to not continue with previous contractors ISG Construction, which has designed the new facility.

In May 2022, the company was commissioned by Powys County Council to complete the design stage for the 64-place replacement school following a tender process – which “included the option for the company to carry out the construction phase of the project”.

OTHER NEWS:

ISG Construction Ltd has completed the design stage for the new building and a planning application has been submitted.

But the council now says it has “carried out a review of the project” and has decided “not to progress with the construction phase until a further market testing exercise is carried out”.

The company had previously made a public appeal to local construction companies to help with the build earlier this year and now the council has decided to put out a tender for a new company to finish the project.

Councillor Pete Roberts, cabinet member for a learning Powys, said: “We are committed to providing a new facility for Brynllywarch Hall School as the existing building no longer offers a suitable environment for the teaching and support requirements of pupils with significant behavioural, emotional or social difficulties.

“It is important that the council reviews its build projects as they progress. For this project, we have decided to carry out a further market testing exercise for the construction element.

“We would like to express our thanks to ISG Construction Ltd for their contribution to this important project.

“We will commence a competitive tender process to appoint a contactor for the construction of this new building at the earliest opportunity so that we can provide an environment where teaching staff can thrive and provide pupils with the facilities that enable their needs to be met, giving them a more enjoyable and fulfilling educational experience.”

County Times:

The school provides education for pupils from eight to 19 years old, with a wide range of complex emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

The new school premises is being funded by both Powys County Council and the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.  

Plans include specialist support and provision to pupils with challenging behaviour, appropriate learning spaces to deliver the new national curriculum, specialist equipment - including IT facilities.