Refurbishment plans for two Denbigh schools see next steps approved at Cabinet

At a cabinet meeting held today (December 16^th) Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet approved recommendations which set out the next steps for the Denbigh High refurbishment programme and the refurbishment project at Ysgol Pendref.

The approved recommendations included the commitment of capital match funding towards both projects, and the submission of both Strategic Outline Cases for consideration by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning investment panels in the first few months of 2026.

Both projects form part of the Council’s outline plan for the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

During the meeting, Cabinet also approved the commencement of the procurement process to appoint a contractor to lead on the detailed design and build for the refurbishment of the Denbigh High project.

Denbigh High

In September 2025 feasibility works were undertaken to ascertain a concept design and inform an outline scope of works for addressing the major site issues at Denbigh High. The proposed scheme of works that has been developed as a result of the feasibility work was developed in consultation with the school’s Senior Leadership Team.

The total agreed project allocation at this stage for the Denbigh High project is currently £19.8million.

Ysgol Pendref was established in 2012 following the amalgamation of two neighbouring schools. The school has operated since 2012 from two separate buildings on one site, with this new project aiming to consolidate all teaching and learning into a single building.

Ysgol Pendref

The proposal will also seek provision for dedicated childcare provision, subject to approval, for a separate Child Care Capital Grant scheme to Welsh Government, and the development of community facilities to support the Upper Denbigh area. 

In the summer of 2025, a Design and Construction Agent was appointed to support the development of the Ysgol Pendref project, and manage the procurement of a contractor to lead on the design and build for the extension and refurbishment of the current site. Approval to progress the procurement was provided by Cabinet in September 2025.

The total agreed project cost is presently £13.2 million for the Ysgol Pendref project.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said:

“I am glad to see that both of these projects are taking the next steps, with both Strategic Outline Cases going forward for consideration by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning investment panel next month. We have also agreed today to approve the necessary match funding for both projects.

Projects of this scale go through a number of key stages before there are spades in the ground and work can begin on the respective sites.

If approved at all key stages of development and approvals, these refurbishment projects will modernise and improve the facilities and capabilities of both schools and will bring a positive lasting impact for the generations of pupils in Denbigh and surrounding areas who will attend these schools in the future.”