Over £6m to be invested in improving schools and public buildings

Nearly £5 million is being invested in improving the fabric and facilities at school buildings across Leicester as part of a major programme of works.

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The money will be spent on a wide package of measures, ranging from upgrades to school heating, energy-efficiency schemes, electrical works, window replacement, as well as improving site security, roofing repairs and adaptations for pupils with disabilities.

In addition, over £1.1 million is being invested in restoring and repairing a range of public buildings and amenities throughout the city, including several historic landmarks but also parks, leisure centres, libraries and other community facilities.

Leicester City Council has this week announced the spending, which involves £4.96 million on its Children’s Capital Improvement Programme 2019 – the latest stage of an ongoing programme to maintain and improve school buildings.

The council has also approved the £1.124m million investment from its Corporate Property Improvement Programme budget to carry out repairs on its buildings and facilities citywide.

Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Both of these programmes will see investment made to well-used buildings and other sites across the city, to ensure they continue to offer facilities meeting the modern standards of safety, energy efficiency and accessibility.

“Some of the improvements at schools will be major works, such a renewing heating systems or electrical safety work, while others will involve smaller repairs or replacement works to ensure our schools are at the best.

“Additionally by improving our parks, heritage buildings, libraries and sports centres, we are securing their future as safe, welcoming public buildings for everyone to use.

“Some of these, such as the Magazine and Cavendish House, are among the city’s oldest buildings and we’ve worked with Historic England on work to ensure they are preserved for future generations.”

The work in schools across the city includes:

£1.1m on replacing old windows in 10 schools

£679,000 on upgrading the heating systems in six schools, a college and a children’s centre

£165,000 on improving access safety at five schools

£400,000 over two years for carbon reduction schemes in response to the climate emergency

Other money has also been put aside within the programme to enable disabled adaptations (£250,000), risk-reduction works (£300,000) and £350,000 to cover any emergency work needed during the two-year span of the investment programme.

Elsewhere in the city, the Corporate Property Improvement Programme will look to carry out a planned programme of repairs and improvements in public buildings and other sites.

Work on buildings includes:

£210,000 on restoration works to preserve the Magazine building, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument

£44,000 to preserve the ruins of Cavendish House in Abbey Park, which is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument

Elsewhere, £150,000 will be invested on repairs to footpaths in three city parks, while maintenance and repairs totalling £50,000 will be carried out at five city leisure centres.

Finally, £498,000 is due to be spent at buildings including the Town Hall, Central Library, Adult Education College, Rushey Mead Library and De Montfort Hall on works including heating and electrical upgrades, asbestos removal and disability adaptations.