Working to Re-Build Leyland St Mary’s
Cassidy + Ashton has submitted a planning application to refurbish and re-develop Leyland St Mary’s Catholic High School.
Proposed plans for the school, half of which was destroyed by fire in September 2013, will help to re-structure and organise space, providing classrooms, new science and technology departments, extended dining areas, car parks and outdoor space.
The plan is to re-build 3,530m² of new buildings to provide high-quality new facilities for the benefit of staff and pupils. The existing frontage will be enhanced with a new extension to the dining room together with new main entrance, associated landscaping and car parking. The design has created 2 secure courtyard areas at the heart of the development allowing both social and teaching outdoor spaces.
Cassidy +Ashton has been working closely with the school since September to ensure that learning was disrupted as little as possible, organising for portacabins to be delivered for temporary accommodation.
Lawrence McBurney, project architect from C+A, said: “Our plans have been designed to create a modern and inspiring school which will meet the needs of both current and future students, whilst also providing exceptional facilities for use by local communities.
“Although the school was damaged under terrible circumstances, we have been provided with an opportunity to re-design facilities in order to make best use of space.
“Having undertaken a comprehensive community consultation programme, we know that there is fantastic support for the project from people in the area and are looking forward to receiving the decision in due course.”
Kathy McNicholas, headteacher at Leyland St Mary’s Catholic High School, said: “Everyone in the school is really excited to see plans moving forward. The new buildings will help us to create a modern school, designed for our needs, that will enable us to continue to provide an excellent education to our pupils, as well as facilities for the wider community.”