Galliford Try has been awarded a contract to build the Marjorie McClure Special Needs and Disability School, as part of the new Sustainability Pilot Scheme for the Department of Education
Contracts have been signed with the London Borough of Bromley to build the school, which has been designed to reduce energy demand and encourage biodiversity in response to the UK Government target to achieve net zero in ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions by 2050.
Galliford Try recently outlined its own commitment to reach net-zero carbon across its own operations by 2030.
The school, which will be delivered by Galliford Try’s Building Southern business unit, is a 100-place facility for students aged 4-19 with a range of different complex needs including physical, medical and learning difficulties.
Sustainable construction practices
The school will utilise a daylighting strategy which includes a daylight balancing window design, and overheating through the use of external shading, with consideration of natural light and ventilation to reduce energy use.
Heating and hot water generation will be fossil fuel-free, through the use of an air source heat pump and photovoltaics, which will be included on the roof which will generate energy to be offset against overall usage.
The building will be constructed with timber structural insulated panels that are manufactured offsite, providing enhanced fabric performance and reducing embodied carbon.
‘An important step towards zero carbon’
Claire Jackson, education director for Galliford Try, commented: “We are delighted to have been chosen by the DfE for their Sustainability Pilot scheme, further proving our credentials in providing high-quality sustainable educational buildings.
“We are constantly evolving our Optimum Schools offering, working towards an Optimum Schools Zero offering and this project at Marjorie McClure is an important step along the road to zero carbon.”
