A planning application has been submitted for a major redevelopment of Ysgol Hirael, one of Bangor’s long-standing primary schools. The goal is to transform the learning environment and improve accessibility for future generations.
An investment of £5.5 million is set to revitalize the school, with almost £3.6 million coming from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Learning Communities fund, and the remainder sourced from match funding by Cyngor Gwynedd.
The extensions built in the 1970s have reached the end of their lifespan, making refurbishment impractical. The improvements will include remodeling the kitchen, hall, and some classrooms, along with constructing a new extension and enhancing the schoolyard to provide an appropriate space for the 210 pupils enrolled.
Careful planning ensures that the school will remain open throughout the construction process, which is expected to be completed by 2026. Parents, guardians, school staff, and the local community will have the opportunity to review plans for the new extension and the interior upgrades during a drop-in session with council officers and the selected contractor before construction begins.
The proposals, created by Frame Four Construction Consultants on behalf of Gwynedd Council, encompass the demolition of parts of the existing school building and the construction of an extension to accommodate new classrooms and facilities. These upgrades aim to bring the school up to modern standards and improve its condition rating from Category C to Category A.
Ysgol Hirael, which currently serves 188 pupils aged 3–11, has been identified as needing urgent improvements. According to the Council’s 2022/23 review, this investment addresses long-standing discrepancies in educational infrastructure across Bangor’s catchment area.
“Enhancing the learner experience and enabling the school to deliver a 21st-century curriculum is at the heart of this proposal,” states the application.
Key features of the redevelopment include:
– Construction of four new classrooms for Nursery, Reception, Year 1, and Year 2, designed to meet current educational standards and enhance the learning experience, supporting 21st-century education and curriculum delivery.
– Creation of transitional external play areas adjacent to the new classrooms.
– Integration of a community resource center, Cylch Meithrin, into the overall design.
– Provision of a main point of access to the site.
– Upgrading sanitary facilities throughout the school to meet modern standards.
– Building a new hall and kitchens that adhere to contemporary standards.
– Improvement of ancillary and administrative spaces to enhance their functionality within the school.
– Preservation of the existing red brick structure from the 1900s, ensuring it is sensitively integrated while connecting to the new structures, in full compliance with Level Access Standards.
Notably, the design retains and thoughtfully incorporates the school’s original 1900s Ruabon red brick building, which is regarded as a historic structure central to the site’s identity. A new main entrance will be introduced from Seiriol Road, framing the historic gable wall as a focal point in a redesigned “avenue-style” pedestrian access route.
Ysgol Hirael’s outdated facilities were first highlighted in a 2017 review of educational provision in the area. Since then, Gwynedd Council has worked diligently to secure funding and carry out detailed consultations and pre-application reviews, leading to this comprehensive redevelopment plan.
The proposed upgrades also include external play areas, sustainable building design, and improved landscaping, with contributions from specialists in drainage, ecology, and green infrastructure.
If approved, the redevelopment is expected to significantly enhance the quality of education at Ysgol Hirael and its role as a community hub in central Bangor. central Bangor.
