PLANS to knock down a primary school and build a new school and community centre in its place have been lodged.
Plans have been submitted to Cyngor Gwynedd to knock down the existing buildings at Bontnewydd Primary School before the new facilities are built.
The site has been selected as one of only three in Wales to be a case study for its design aimed at championing the ideals of “carbon net zero” and “sustainability”.
The current school is located within Bontnewydd village alongside the river Gwyrfai in a predominantly residential area, and near the A4871.
The main school building was built in the 1970s and has now become “outdated”, the plans say.
“It is now suffering from a building fabric at the end of its design life, unable to provide a suitable teaching environment within the context of current design standards expected of schools within the 21st Century,” the application notes.
The application explains that the Ysgol Bontnewydd scheme, in collaboration with Gwynedd’s council, has secured full Welsh Government funding through the “Sustainable Schools Challenge” scheme.
The initiative “seeks to push the boundaries of school procurement in Wales, championing carbon net zero and innovation within the education sector”.
Bontnewydd is one of three schools commissioned, one each in South, Mid and North Wales, “with a view of using the three sites as case studies for the future procurement of school buildings in the future”.
It also states that “sustainability” is at the “forefront” of the initiative and is reflected by “Cyngor Gwynedd’s aspirations” of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and the UK’s target of 2050.
Among the plans are a new multi-use games area – accessible outside of school hours to the community.
This “will further enhance the site as a community-based facility alongside meeting rooms and event spaces,” the plans say.
The new scheme will see the development of a Welsh-medium primary school for 240 pupils, including nursery provision for 30 pupils.
It will provide “wrap around care” and Cylch Meithrin for up to 30 pupils and an additional ALN (additional learning needs) unit.
Currently a separate and detached Victorian school building contains the Cylch Meithrin, and has “limited provisions for use by the community,” the plans note.
The community centre will also have an approximate capacity for 70 people outside of schools hours and 20 during normal school hours.
The application includes plans for a new vehicle entrance with new car parking and drop off areas “to enhance pedestrian safety”.
