Willmott Dixon has started construction on an £8.5 million net-zero carbon primary school on the outskirts of Hinckley, Leicestershire.
Work is underway on the 210 place Hollycroft Primary School, which will be Leicestershire County Council’s latest sustainable building project.
The school, for pupils aged four to 11, is part of 10-year Normandy Way development, where Bloor Homes is building 850 homes, along with new shops and community facilities.
Willmott Dixon director Nick Heath said: “Having worked closely with Leicestershire County Council for many years building innovative new schools, we’re pleased to have another important project underway.
“It will result in a sustainably-focused school that is not only innovative and flexible, but also supports the local authority’s ambitious net-zero targets.
“All over the country, buildings of old have not been designed with the future in mind and this is where our pioneering approach is reinventing standards. Our Energy Synergy process will help expose any potential performance gap for the council and consequently offer the opportunity to drive down operational costs – a win for the client and for the environment.”
Coun Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council lead member for children and families, said: “I’m proud to say it will be the first Leicestershire school that will be carbon neutral and pupils that attend will learn in an environment that uses renewable energy, has an ‘A’ energy rating and the latest interactive learning equipment.
“We hope children will love learning in the new building.”
The school will be run by the OWLS (Oadby, Wigston and Leicestershire Schools) Academy Trust.
