New 6th form Facilities for Students

A deal was signed on 29th July which will see the existing library at Childwall Fiveways replaced by a state of the art health centre, library and sixth form for Childwall students. The Childwall Partnership Project is being developed by Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnerships on behalf of Liverpool PCT, Liverpool City Council and Childwall School, A Specialist Sports College. The site is in a very prominent location situated at the junction of Childwall Road and Queens Drive is easily accessible by both car and public transport.

The design of the building responds to the prominent nature if the site and will bring together three important community facilities into a single building. The cost of the building is £8,000,000 and has now commenced on the demolition of the existing library with the new facility due to be operational in autumn 2011. The development has been made possible by a £1,000,000 grant from the Department of Schools, Children and Families.

This iconic building will provide first class facilities for the sixth form students of the school, a new city council library, a PCT level 1 health centre which includes 2 GP practices and other bookable areas and a pharmacy.

This is one of the first buildings in Liverpool to include such an eclectic range of partners and it has been very complex in the lead up to financial close. The school did procure the expertise of solicitors Weightmans in order to secure this deal given the complexities of the partnership arrangement.

Head teacher Mr Dewi Phillips said of the development 'this is an exciting project which will provide our 6th formers with a facility fit for education in the 21st century and has the added bonus of providing the community with the additional services of a State of the Art Library, Level 1 HC and pharmacy. The building has come to fruition as a result of the excellent partnership relationships that have been nurtured between the school, Liverpool Council and the PCT - based on trust, integrity and pride. The opportunities to interact with the agencies in the building will be beneficial to the education and health and well-being of the students, staff and local members of the local community.'

Mike Kearney (Principal Officer - Development Manager) of Liverpool City Council said “This is further good news for the city following on from the commitment to proceed with the redevelopment of Central Library and demonstrates the City Council’s commitment to delivering a first class library service to the people of Liverpool.”

Graham Pink Chief Executive of Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership said “We are delighted to be undertaking this important development which demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations work together in partnership to the benefit of the community.”

The health centre will deliver a wide range of services including GPs and Gideon Ben Tovim (Chair of Liverpool Primary Care Trust) commented “The development is part of Liverpool PCT’s commitment to deliver improved patient care, closer to people’s homes. We know through our experience on projects such as those that we have delivered in Picton, Breeze Hill and Everton, the difference these facilities can make to communities.”

This new building will turn the site of Childwall Sports College in to a true community complex and it will become a place where the whole community can access support advice and guidance on the full range of extended services with confidence and self-assurance.

In light of the recent announcement regarding the withdrawal of BSF funding for Liverpool, this new development is more than welcome.

Below: Sign Off Meeting for New Childwall Site (23rd July 2010). Sue Grffiths – (Chair Governor of Childwall), Karen English (Solicitor of Weightmans)