Dear Parents and Carers

Invitation to a Drop-in Event relating to the proposed replacement of Upton-by-Chester High School, Chester.

I am delighted to share some exciting news regarding the future of Upton-by-Chester High School. While it has been some time since our last update, significant progress has been made behind the scenes, and we are delighted to announce that our plans to build a brand-new school have reached a pivotal stage.

This ambitious project, undertaken in collaboration with the Department for Education, AtkinsRéalis, Kier and their skilled design team, has resulted in a proposal that balances the school’s educational needs with the unique features of our site.  Whilst almost all of the school will be rebuilt, the Hub area of the school will remain and will be used to create a dedicated Sixth Form Area in the school.

We are now inviting you to join us in shaping this project by participating in a public engagement period on the proposals. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts and provide feedback before the planning application is formally submitted to Cheshire West and Cheshire Council.

The engagement period will run from Friday 29^th November 2024 to Wednesday 18^th December 2024.  There will also be an opportunity to visit an in-person drop-in event between 4pm and 7pm on Tuesday 10^th December.  This drop in event is for parents and carers, residents and other interested parties.  There will be staff from the DfE, AtkinsRéalis, Kier and the school on hand to answer any questions that you may have.  Information about this event and the planned school rebuild can be found on the school’s website at https://www.uptonhigh.co.uk/newbuild. 

We encourage you to review the proposals and share your comments during this period. A summary of the feedback received will be included within the formal planning application submission early next year.

We hope you are as excited as we are to embark on this transformative chapter for Upton-by-Chester High School. Together, we can create an inspiring environment that will benefit generations of learners to come.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Yours sincerely

Lee Cummins

Please see the information below which has been copied from the website:

We are excited to let you know that a planning application will soon be submitted for the redevelopment of Upton-by-Chester High School.  This welcome redevelopment will deliver significantly improved educational facilities for the local community, building on the school’s educational successes.

The redevelopment of Upton-by-Chester High School is funded by the Department for Education as part of their School Rebuilding Programme. Kier has been selected by the Department for Education to design and build the new school.

The majority of the existing school buildings are earmarked for demolition and a new three storey, U-shaped school building will be built on the existing grass playing field to the east of the site.

New grass playing fields will then be created to the west of the site (following demolition of the existing buildings).

Two buildings that will be retained are a building towards the western site boundary known by the school as ‘The Hub’ which will be refurbished, and a modular classroom which will be relocated to provide a community use facility.

There will be no change to vehicular / pedestrian access points into the site, and a new bus stop facility and taxi drop-off spaces will be brought into the school boundary.  The existing carparking within the site will be retained, with slight reconfiguration and the installation of electric vehicle charging points. New cycle shelters will also be installed with an increased capacity.

There will be no change to staff and pupil numbers as a result of the redevelopment.

The new building will minimise energy demand and use low carbon / renewable energy solutions.  This will include solar panels on the roof and on canopies around the grounds.

If you have any comments or queries on the current proposals, please send these to uptonhigh.uk@avisonyoung.com by 18^th December 2024.

We will be submitting the planning application early in 2025. Once the application has been submitted, it will be available to view and comment on via Cheshire West and Chester Council’s online planning portal:  https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-control/see-or-comment-on-planning-applications/how-to-view-an-application

Subject to receiving planning permission the school redevelopment is planned to commence in Summer 2025.