New Catholic School in Rhyl
The proposals for the new 3-16 Catholic school in Rhyl have taken an important step forward.
The amalgamation of Ysgol Mair and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High school has now been approved after no objections to the proposal were received. This means the new schools will be established on the 1st September 2019, with the two existing schools closing.
Alongside this, Kier Construction, who were appointed in May 2017 to take forward plans to deliver the new 3-16 Catholic School, have made great progress in developing the designs for the new school. The finishing touches are being made to the plans in advance of consultation with the public in October. This will allow residents, parents and pupils to have their say on the design before it is submitted for Planning Approval. Confirmation of the arrangements will be provided on the Council's website and through its social media channels.
The project is planned to be funded in partnership by the Council and the Welsh Government, through its 21st Century Schools and Education Capital Programme and the first stage of the Business Case based on these initial plans will be considered by the Welsh Government during the autumn.
Schools Update
Over £21m is planned to be invested in the Ruthin area as Denbighshire, in partnership with the Welsh Government via the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme provide new buildings for four primary schools in the Ruthin area. We take a look at the current progress of all of the schemes in the area below.
Ysgol Pen Barras and Rhos Street 
This £11 million development will result in Ysgol Pen Barras and Rhos Street School relocating from their current sites to a new facility at Glasdir, Ruthin.
Wynne Construction, the main Contractor for the project are progressing well in line with the programme which will see the works completed in the spring of 2018. Recent project highlights include completing the installation of the roof cladding and the start of the mechanical and electrical first fix. The majority of windows have now been installed and work to the new entrance and car park is ongoing.
Up and coming works include completing the window installation and the stonework to the front of the building and car park. Work will also continue on the mechanical and electrical installation and the internal plastering and external render.
Over the coming months the Council will work with the two schools to plan carefully the move from the existing sites to the new site.
Ysgol Carreg Emlyn
Over the summer preparatory work behind the scenes has continued for the new school in Clocaenog for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn.
Following planning approval to build a new primary school for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn in June, the project has now been out to tender and is currently at the tender evaluation stage. There has been a very good response to the tender with a number of contractors interested.
The appointment of the main building contractor will be announced at the start of October, with construction scheduled to start on site in the winter with completion anticipated in the autumn of 2018.
The new building will provide classrooms, a new hall, a community room, and space for small group work, external play areas, new vehicle access and car parking with a drop-off area. Following the completion of the building works the school will be able to operate from this single site with the existing buildings in Clocaenog and Cyffyliog closing.
Ysgol Llanfair
Overall there has been a positive response to the pre-planning consultation which took place over June and July. Following feedback from this, tweaks to the internal layout and highways proposals have been undertaken. The completion of additional ecological surveys should allow the planning application to be considered over the coming weeks.
Alongside this work is being progressed to secure a main contractor to work with Denbighshire to deliver the project.
Subject to approvals being received it is anticipated that construction could start on site Spring 2018 and completion anticipated in the spring of 2019.
The project will provide classrooms for the delivery of mixed year classes and additional areas including a hall, kitchen, community room, staff room, administration office, head teachers office, toilets and storage.
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