Kier has been appointed by North Somerset Council and Cabot Learning
Federation to deliver a new £30.5m net zero carbon building for Winterstoke
Hundred Academy in Weston-Super-Mare.
The new school
building, funded by Homes
England’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, will be an expansion of the
Winterstoke Hundred Academy and will provide 900 new pupil places when complete.
Procured through the Southern Construction Framework, this expansion
supports North Somerset Council’s commitment to make North Somerset carbon
neutral by 2030
and the three-storey 80,000m2 building has been designed to achieve Net Zero
Carbon in operation, a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating and have a 10%
biodiversity net gain.
The new school facilities are expected to cater to years 7 to 11 and include
on-site energy generation and a recycling centre to help reduce carbon
emissions, as well as extra bike storage to provide pupils with a sustainable
option of cycling to school.
To support the school syllabus which specialises in environmental science
and climate change, Kier will have an on-site Sustainability Lab which will
provide on-site vocational training during construction from the Kier team and
consultants. The Sustainability Lab is part of Kier’s commitment to deliver
social value to the school and local community with students and teachers set
to design the internal ‘eco’ features for the lab. The Sustainability Lab will
continue as a usable facility once works have been completed in Summer 2023.
Throughout the scheme, Kier will be supporting surrounding educational
institutions offering students work experience, apprenticeships and placements.
Jason Taylor, regional director for Kier Construction Western & Wales,
said: “North Somerset Council and Cabot Learning Foundation have a clear vision
to provide sustainable educational buildings and we are delighted they have
appointed us to deliver the expansion at Winterstoke Hundred Academy.
“We share their vision and passion and through our Building for a Sustainable
World commitments at Kier, we will create a new net zero building with clear
environmental benefits as well as offer employment and training opportunities
to the local community as part of our social value commitments.”
Steve Taylor CEO of Cabot Learning Federation said: “We are delighted that
this project has reached such a defining moment. The partnership with Kier and
North Somerset Council has been key to bringing us to the point where we can
expand the offer of this already over-subscribed school. At its inception two
years ago, the school spoke to its community regarding its intended focus on
environmental science. The opportunity to hone this curriculum focus within a
net zero building is extremely exciting and entirely in line with our
priorities as a trust.”
Councillor Steve Bridger said: “It’s great to see construction begin on the
first of our Housing Infrastructure Fund projects.
“When completed, the new school building will increase the number of school
places in North Somerset, so that we can continue to offer our young people an
opportunity to learn in their local area.
“I’m also proud to say that the building has been designed to meet some of
the top environmental standards, helping us work towards our goal of becoming
carbon neutral by 2030 and thinking about the future of our region as well as
our young people.”
