A new £16m SEND school in Lincolnshire will be built by Willmott Dixon, procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework
Willmott Dixon has been chosen to build its fifth special education needs and disabilities (SEND) school for Lincolnshire County Council.
It has been procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework to build the £16m SEND St Lawrence School in Horncastle, which was designed by project architect the Kier Group.
The new more sustainable school will be located next to the original one – confirmed as end-of-life by condition surveys – which will remain open during construction before being demolished when the new school is ready for the 2023-24 academic year.
The development offers specialised spaces for SEND pupils
The new school will include a health hub offering physiotherapy, soft play and sensory areas, as well as a full education suite including science labs, design and technology and art classrooms, allowing pupils to complete a full curriculum offering.
The new building will provide hall spaces with associated changing and hygiene suites for all needs, allowing for rebound therapy and general sports, as well as the ability to be used for multiple functions, including dining.
Essential life and social skills areas have been added to allow the children to learn essential skills for when they leave education, as well as safe and suitable outside spaces.
The school design implements a fabric-first approach to deliver an improved U-value, surpassing the standard found in most schools. Further sustainability features include air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points.
Upon completion of the works, the school will have access to a total of 65 parking spaces in a new car park, with accessible, enlarged and minibus spaces, as well as provisions for cycling. The site will have the capacity for 28 minibuses for a managed pick-up/drop-off system.
Incorporating sustainability and longevity into the Lincolnshire SEND school programme
The school is part of the council’s wider £100m SEND school investment programme. Nick Heath, director of delivery in the Midlands at Willmott Dixon, said: “We’re pleased to be strengthening our relationship with Lincolnshire County Council on creating this future-proofed SEND school.
“We take a consultative approach to projects, especially sustainable solutions. Initially, the council wanted to refurbish the existing school, but the work required to refurbish and extend it wouldn’t have been value for money in the long term. We therefore recommended the creation of this new facility.
“The school’s sustainable measures will help to future-proof it against upcoming government targets, while also allowing the council to incorporate sustainable solutions in the future at minimise costs and disruption.”
Jonathan Parker, head of construction at Pagabo, said: “It’s brilliant to see progress on this significant project for Lincolnshire County Council and to have Willmott Dixon doing what it does best on site. Not only is it a project that will make a difference to the lives of many in the region, it is a project that exemplifies all that’s great about industry collaboration and striving for high quality design standards fit for the future.”
