Underground substation project at West End school site officially set to proceed

The Vancouver School Board and BC Hydro have concluded an agreement to build an underground substation at the Lord Roberts Annex school site in the West End.

In a news release, the VSB said all necessary agreements related to the sale have been completed.

"I am pleased our district can move forward in building new schools with space for more students," saidVSB chair Janet Fraser.

"In the years ahead, VSB will continue to consult and work with our school communities, stakeholders and neighbours during construction of the future schools at Coal Harbour and the Lord Roberts Annex site," she said.

• BC Hydro plan to build substation beneath school too hasty, say critics

In June, board trustees voted six to two to accept BC Hydro's plan for the site, which will see the school demolished and students temporarily moved to a new school in Coal Harbour.

A substation will be built underground at the site and a new elementary school constructed on the same property.

Under the terms of the agreement, the school district will receive a minimum of $73 million from BC Hydro for construction of an elementary school that will includechild care spaces anda playing field.

• Coming soon to a park and school underneath you: a hydro substation

BCHydro saidit mustreplace threeaging Vancouver substations to meet the city's future power needs.

The utility pitchedthe planbecause landabove groundin downtown Vancouver is pricy and hard to find.

The project is expected to be completed by 2023.

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