A construction firm has completed work on a brand new £5 million primary school in Derby which has taken less than a year to plan and build.
Morgan Sindall Construction has handed over the new Hackwood Primary Academy, which will provide more than 200 places for children living in hundreds of new homes being built in the surrounding area.
The school, in Starflower Way, has progressed from planning to handover in such a short space of time thanks to the use of innovative modular construction methods.
Designed by Lungfish Architects, Hackwood Primary Academy is a modular single-storey school, spanning 14,000 sq ft. It houses seven classrooms and a 26-place nursery.
Offsite specialist education manufacturer Eco Modular Buildings provided the expandable units, which have the capacity to be expanded in the future to accommodate up to 315 pupils.
Commissioned by Derby City Council, Redrow Homes East Midlands and Miller Homes, the £5 project was procured through the Scape Venture framework, which aims to build certainty into public-private partnerships while facilitating early collaboration between all parties.
The Hackwood school scheme is the most high-profile to be delivered through the framework to date.
Rob Cant, framework director at Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, said: “This project is a shining example of what can be achieved when effective and early collaboration is twinned with the very best in modern methods of construction.
“The rapid delivery is a clear plus. But the assurances around sustainability, quality and potential for easy future expansion afforded by the modular offsite construction process are of equal importance.
“Hackwood Primary Academy sets down a marker for the standards local authorities should demand when looking to deliver additional school places without delay, and stands evidence to the effectiveness of working through frameworks.”
Simon Reid, Lungfish Architects managing director, said: “By working collaboratively with Hackwood Primary Academy and Morgan Sindall Construction, and utilising our expertise in designing schools, we have been able to create innovative, engaging spaces that will enhance the learning experience for the pupils.”
