24/11/10 - Development of eco-friendly school progressing well

The new £5.7m Bushbury Hill Primary School is one of two new school buildings which are being built to 'Passivhaus' standards. Work on the other, the new £7m Oak Meadow Primary School building, is also well underway.

A Passivhaus building is designed and built in such a way that it uses up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling than standard buildings and, therefore, requires minimal traditional heating and doesn't need expensive air conditioning systems. As a result, a Passivhaus building is then able to make use of existing heat sources rather than having to generate its own like a traditional building.

Thomas Vale Construction is developing the new Passivhaus-standard schools. Already it has secured both construction areas with hoardings and installed temporary site offices. The footprints of the buildings are completed to form the foundations, with the timber frames due to be erected at the Bushbury Hill site around Christmas. Oak Meadow’s frame is expected to be constructed in January 2011.

Councillor Neville Patten, Leader of Wolverhampton City Council, said: “By using Passivhaus standards we’re not only providing 21st century learning spaces for our current pupils but we’re protecting the environment for their children and future generations too.

"Passivhaus buildings provide a healthier environment by providing a consistently comfortable level of heat and a continuous supply of clean fresh air, which is ideal for helping pupils maintain concentration and get the most from their learning experience.

“Our architects Architype, who worked with Thomas Vale Construction on the award-winning St Luke’s Primary School in Blakenhall, adopted Passivhaus standards when they designed both schools and they will be amongst the first in the UK to be built in this ground-breaking way.”

The work is being carried out as part of Wolverhampton City Council’s £12m Primary Capital Programme, which is transforming education for primary age pupils in Wolverhampton.

The new buildings are being constructed alongside the existing schools to minimise any disruption, with the old buildings being demolished once the new facilities are completed. The site of the former Oak Meadow Primary School will then be re-developed to create new playing fields while at Bushbury Hill the former school site will provide both playing areas and an outdoor learning space.

Bushbury Hill will be able to accommodate 210 youngsters, Oak Meadow will have places for up to 420 pupils and both will open for the autumn term, 2011.