School notifiable projects

Step 1

Download the SNP1 Outline Proposal Form to seek approval to proceed with your project. Consult the project guidance document, complete the form and return it to us. Your application will be acknowledged and a decision letter will be sent to you within 2 weeks of your SNP1 submission, giving approval for you to proceed to the next stage of the process. In some cases the application may not be supported, and you will be advised of the reasons why so that you can address any issues highlighted, and re-apply if appropriate.

Step 2

Download the SNP2 Application for Approval of a School Notifiable Project Form. Consult the guidance document and complete the form. Make sure that you have answered every question and ticked the boxes or written ‘NA’ if you are certain that the requirement specified does not apply. When the head teacher and chair of governors have signed the form, return it to us and attach any plans or drawings if applicable. Your application will be acknowledged and then assessed educationally and technically. An approval letter will be sent to you within a minimum of 2 weeks, although sometimes the approval may take longer, or more information may be required. In some cases, the approval may have conditions attached which must be met before any work begins.

Step 3

When your project has been completed, download the SNP3 Completion of Works Form. Complete the form and return it, with electronic plans if applicable to your project, to us so that the asset management plans can be updated. All signed and completed forms should be returned to:

Administrator
Property and Assets
Central Bedfordshire Council
Priory House
Monks Walk
Chicksands
Shefford
Bedfordshire
SG17 5TQ

About school notifiable project (SNP) permission

All community schools, academies who lease a building we own and voluntary controlled schools must submit a school notifiable project (SNP) application to seek approval for all extensions, alterations, maintenance, service works and demolition to a school building or site. We must grant permission before any work begins.

Other schools are encouraged to use the process, to provide reassurance that a project has been subject to scrutiny by a range of our services which specialise in the technical appraisal and support of construction projects.

The application process flowchart shows timescales from application to completion. It is important that you allow enough time for a school notifiable project application to be processed, for example for a summer holiday project we recommend that a SNP1 outline proposal application is submitted by Easter.

The aim of the process is to assist and support schools who wish to undertake certain building alterations and extensions. Safety is paramount and the approval scheme provides a level of support to schools and governing bodies to ensure that statutory responsibilities under health and safety legislation are complied with. All schools are encouraged to use the process, to provide support and protection.

The SNP approval process takes a minimum of 4 weeks to complete, but your project may require other approvals, or permissions with timescales which you need to be aware of, such as:

• asbestos survey / intrusive works: 2 to 3 months
• building regulation approval: 10 days
• insurance (additional temporary cover): 10 days
• planning application approval: 6 to 8 weeks

These types of applications must be approved before any work begins and you will need to factor these timescales in when planning your project start date. The guidance document provides examples of projects that require an SNP application and valuable information on all aspects of running a project. You should consult this guidance when completing the SNP forms. It is important that schools are aware that any work carried out before approval is granted is done entirely at the school’s own risk.