Work has started on a new £10m primary school being built in South Gloucestershire.
The redevelopment of Frenchay Church of England Primary School, in Frenchay near Bristol, is part of South Gloucestershire Council’s largest-ever investment into schools.
Construction firm BAM is delivering the scheme under the Southern Construction Framework (SCF) following a competitive tender process, it said.
Under its plans, the current building will be replaced with a two-storey, two-form entry school on the grounds of the old Frenchay Hospital. It is expected to open in September and will be able to accommodate up to 420 children.
According to BAM, the new building is aiming to achieve the low-carbon international design standard ‘Passivhaus’. It will have eco-efficient features including triple glazing; solar panels; highly insulated thermal fabric; and heat recovery units.
Classrooms will be situated on both floors of the new building, with extra learning areas for first-floor classrooms looking out over neighbouring woodland.
Tim Chell, BAM’s Western regional director, covering South West England and South Wales, said the firm would use digital modelling and 4D planning to deliver a “progressive, net-zero design”.
“This scheme underlines our forward-thinking approach to delivering ultra-sustainable education projects,” he said.
As part of the redevelopment, BAM is working with community group Frenchay Residents’ Association to renovate a damaged nearby pond and picnic area. The work will include tidying up surrounding overgrowth and the removal of plants to a temporary holding pond as the new pond is relined.
The team will also use a 360 excavator and dumper truck to carry out heavy earthworks including the break-up and removal of a concrete surround so the pond can be reshaped.
Erica Williams, cabinet member for education, skills and employment, said: “It’s excellent to see the construction of the new school building for Frenchay Primary School well underway.
“We have been planning this project for some time and I am delighted to see the building take shape.”
Katherine Marks, headteacher at Frenchay Church of England Primary School, added: “Every member of our community is very excited about the move to the new school building.”
BAM said it created the UK’s first Passivhaus primary school in Exeter, and the first assessment of embodied and operational carbon at a primary school, at King Ina School in Taunton, which was completed a few months ago.
