Wates starts work on first net-zero schools

The project is being delivered using Wates’ Adapt solution, a component-based school kit in which the ‘fabric first’ approach is optimised to provide very high levels of insulation and air tightness.

At Lytham St Annes High School in Lancashire, Wates is delivering a two-storey main school block and detached sports hall, with work due to be completed in 2023. All new-build elements will be net zero carbon in operation, achieved through a combination of enhanced building fabric, passive ventilation chimneys, mechanical heat recovery systems and onsite offsetting of energy use through an extensive biosolar roof system.

At Littleborough Community Primary School it will build a two-storey building on land within the existing Littleborough campus, including 14 new classrooms, a library, a new sports/assembly hall, multi-use games area (MUGA) and a 420-place primary school providing 60 places for each year group along with a 26-place nursery.

The sustainable design includes an optimised thermal envelope with increased insulation and triple-glazed windows, optimised window sizes to maximise daylighting together with rooflights and lightwells, enhanced ventilation with openable windows to classrooms, and solar panels.

Whitworth Community High School, a new 750-place secondary school, will comprise a two- and three-storey main teaching block with classrooms, main hall and specialist technology spaces. A minimum of 70% of the building’s pre-manufactured value (PMV) will be constructed using offsite manufacturing techniques, while other sustainable aspects of the build will include roof-mounted photovoltaics, biosolar green roofs, heat recovery systems, sustainable drainage systems, offsite engineered thermal envelope and electrical car charging points.

Gary Campbell-Dykes, education director at Wates, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Department for Education on this exciting and innovative project, delivering one of the first net-zero schools in the UK. The construction industry has a huge role to play in helping meet the country’s ambitious climate goals, and this marks an important step in our journey towards achieving net-zero.

“Wates’ mission is to be a force for good, driven by our commitment to become the most sustainable, trusted and progressive business in the sector, and we have now delivered more than £500m worth of school construction through our ‘Adapt’ solution, which offers a more sustainable method of construction, and delivers efficient buildings and services for our customers.”