As members of the Bradfield community will know, the Campus Development Framework (CDF) is the result of several years of planning and consultation throughout all levels of the College. We are delighted that it has now reached the stage of public consultation before approval by the College Council. I am very grateful to the numerous people who have enabled us to reach this point.
The CDF is conceived as an overarching consideration of the College campus and its potential future development, not as a formal or timetabled programme of specific works. Its scope includes consideration of projects that would enable the College to flourish in the years leading up to and beyond our two hundredth anniversary in 2050.
The central purpose of the CDF is to act as a backdrop to ongoing strategic planning and as a material consideration to potential formal planning applications in the years ahead. It is designed to enable rational development of the campus in sympathy with existing buildings, with the local environment and with our neighbours.
It is intended to help the College respond to the changing demands and opportunities for an independent school committed to offering the very best in all round education. It should simultaneously enable interested parties to understand College developments in a broader perspective.
We formally consulted on the CDF between Tuesday 19 February 2019 and Tuesday 19 March 2019. The published report can be found below. If you have any queries, please email the Capital Projects team at: cdf@bradfieldcollege.org.uk.
Dr Christopher Stevens, Headmaster
ARMY HOUSE PROJECT
Army House is the grade II listed building which abuts Buscot Hill and Ashampstead Road and comprises one of the College’s boarding houses and associated staff residential accommodation. A condition survey identified the need for significant essential repairs, including replacing the roof and rainwater goods, repairing and re-decorating the windows and repairing the masonry.
The proximity of the building to the crossroads at Buscot Hill and Ashampstead Road, coupled with the substantial height of the building and chimneys, poses some considerable challenges in the design of the scaffolding and temporary roof required whilst the works are completed, along with access for removing and loading materials.
Phase I (Buscot Hill elevation) has been completed and work on Phase II (Ashampstead Road) is due to commence in February 2025 and complete in late December 2025. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions which explain more about the need for the project and the impact on Ashampstead Road.
We are acutely aware that this will have a significant impact on our local community and sincerely apologise for the considerable inconvenience this will cause, but it really is non-discretionary and needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is Ashampstead Road being closed?
The roof to the buildings along the road is in a poor state of repair and in urgent need of replacement. West Berkshire Highways have advised that the road needs to be closed to allow the contractors to work safely during the works.
How long will the road closure be in place?
The works will start in February 2025 and complete in December 2025, providing no major issues are encountered. The extent of the road closure and temporary lights will vary through the year and the table below indicates the approximate periods (these may change slightly depending on site progress):
For Light Goods Vehicles:
- Mid February to Mid April 2025
- Ashampstead Road fully closed from 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday
- 4-way lights operational from 17:00 to 08:00 Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays
- Mid April to Late June 2025
- Ashampstead Road fully closed from 09:30 to 15:30 Monday to Friday
- 4-way lights operational from 15:30 to 09:30 Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays
- Late June to Mid July 2025
- Ashampstead Road fully closed from 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday
- 4-way lights operational from 17:00 to 08:00 Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays
- Mid July to Late October 2025
- Ashampstead Road fully closed from 09:30 to 15:30 Monday to Friday
- 4-way lights operational from 15:30 to 09:30 Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays
- Late October to Mid November 2025
- Ashampstead Road fully closed from 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday
- 4-way lights operational from 17:00 to 08:00 Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays
- Mid November to Mid December 2025
- Ashampstead Road fully closed from 09:30 to 15:30 Monday to Friday
- 4-way lights operational from 15:30 to 09:30 Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays
For Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs):
The road will be closed to HGVs for the duration of the works. There will be no HGV access during the evenings and weekends due to the narrowness of the remaining carriageway.
Why are temporary lights required in addition to the road closure?
The introduction of 4-way lights at the crossroads will allow a single carriageway to be opened along Ashampstead Road during the evenings and weekends for use by light goods vehicles only. The lights will not be operational when the road is fully closed during the working day.
Why is the road closure lasting so long?
Due to the presence of bats roosting in the roof, the College is obliged by law to obtain a licence from Natural England and to follow specific procedures and methods for removing the existing roof and installing the new one, in order to make sure no bats are harmed during the works. As such, the works will take longer than they otherwise would if no bats were present.
We are also installing a temporary roof which will allow the work to progress in the majority of weather conditions. As a result, there is a lower risk of delays due to weather and less likelihood of water ingress in the building causing further damage and extending the programme. It does, however, take longer to install a temporary roof, but on balance we believe this provides greater certainty (indeed none of the contractors we interviewed would do the project without one).
Why can’t all the works be done under temporary lights and avoid the road closure?
Ashampstead Road is particularly narrow in places. Whilst the scaffolding and temporary roof is being erected, sufficient space is required for the vehicles and the workers to layout and erect the scaffolding in a way that is safe both for the workers and the public.
Once the temporary roof is erected and the repair works commence, there are extensive materials to be safely removed and loaded onto the scaffolding regularly during the contractor’s working day.
Why can’t the road closure be limited to 09:30 to 15:30 all the time?
The closures from 08:00 to 17:00 are required when the scaffolding and temporary roof is erected and dismantled. Reducing the working times would significantly extend the time taken to put up and take down the scaffolding and therefore extend the overall programme and disruption.
Once the scaffolding is erected, the closure is required to enable loading and unloading of materials. We can manage the loading/unloading and moving of materials within shorter hours as the workers will be able to continue carrying out repairs at the beginning/end of the day with the materials already in place.
Will the road closure affect access to driveways along Ashampstead Road?
Access to all private driveways will be maintained. The road closure will be limited to the section of Road between the crossroads and the end of the building with the “Hillside” sign.
Will there be pedestrian access through the road closure?
Yes, the footpath opposite the scaffolding will be open for all pedestrians (local community, staff and pupils) throughout the works.
What route will vehicles have to follow as a local diversion?
For Light Goods Vehicles, the official diversion route will be via Pangbourne.
For Heavy Goods Vehicles, the diversion route will be via Newbury.
Why are there no works planned between November 2024 and February 2025?
Bats are known to be using the roofs. As a result, there are limitations on when certain works can take place, with no disturbance to bat roosts allowed over the winter.
If I have questions regarding the road closure who should I contact?
A traffic management company will be appointed and will display signs with contact details should you have any queries about the traffic management in place.
If I want to be kept up to date about any changes to the road closure during the project, who should I contact?
Please send your name and email address to cdf@bradfieldcollege.org.uk using Road Closure Update Request in the subject heading. All data will be processed in line with GDPR requirements.
