Clifton School, Bangor

The winning integrated consultant team selected for the estimated £250,000 contract will draw up plans for a new nursery facility, storage spaces and traffic management scheme at the special needs school which is located on the western fringes of the coastal town.

The project, planned to complete in 2024, comes six years after FaulknerBrowns was appointed to masterplan the £75 million mixed-use development of Queen’s Parade on the marina front at Bangor.

According to the brief: ‘Clifton School is a Special Education Needs School which will be operational during the construction of all three projects. The school provides for the needs of children from moderate to severe disabilities, the health and safety of the current enrolment is a priority at tall times and should be considered by the integrated consultant team.

‘Once all three projects have been completed the school will provide a fully functioning special school that provides teaching and care facilities for pupils between the ages of 3-19.

‘In addition to this, the integrated consultant team team will have achieved an end result which benefits all staff and students present and has flexibility for future projects.  This includes due consideration given to a school enhancement project due to start at the in school in 2025.’

Bangor is a popular resort and commuter town located around 22km east of Belfast city centre. Last year, the local authority Ards and North Down Borough Council launched a search for a design team for a major upgrade of Ward Park in Bangor.

Clifton School relocated to its present site on Old Belfast Road in 2004 and now hosts around 200 students. The phased project will deliver a new nursery, storage area and traffic scheme – transforming the facility into a ‘cohesive and innovative fully functioning’ special school.

The winning team will cover RIBA Stages 2-to-7 and is expected to feature a project manager, architect, quantity surveyor, mechanical and electrical services engineer, civil and structural engineer and principal designer.