Partners celebrate official opening of new ‘carbon neutral’ builds at Sundorne Infant and Harlescott Junior schools in Shrewsbury

Shropshire Council, along with the Haughmond Federation, PSG (Shropshire Council’s Property Services Group), MHA Architects and Pave Aways Ltd, came together with pupils on Wednesday 13 July 2022 to celebrate the official opening of Sundorne Infant School and Harlescott Junior School’s new ‘state of the art’ school buildings on Featherbed Lane in north Shrewsbury.

Designed by PSG and specialist educational architect MHA Architects, the new build was contracted to Pave Aways Ltd, and used innovative building methods as part of the council’s ambitions to deliver more sustainable projects to meet its 2030 ‘zero’ carbon targets.

The new infants school comprises two nursery classrooms, four reception classrooms, eight classrooms for Key Stage 1, four classrooms for Key Stage 2, hall, kitchen, offices and meeting rooms.  The junior school comprises four classrooms for Key Stage 3 and a specialist Hub.

The new flagship facility now incorporates Sundorne Infant School and Explorers Nursery, previously on Corndon Crescent; enabling the Haughmond Federation to consolidate its infant and junior provision on a single site.

Back row – L to R: Steven Owen, Managing Director, Pave Aways Ltd; Suzanne Claydon, PSG (Shropshire Council); David Shaw, Shropshire Council’s assistant director of education and achievement.
Front row – L to R: Gemma Kennelly, Haughmond Federation Governor; pupils Isabel and Sam; Steph Peters, Executive Headteacher, Haughmond Federation; Phil Wilson, Shropshire Council’s service manager – learning and skills business support. Photo credit: Pave Aways Ltd.

Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, said:-

“I am delighted to have been invited to attend the official opening of the new build at the existing Harlescott Junior School site.

“Pupils will benefit from a state-of-the-art learning environment and the very latest facilities to help make sure they get the best possible outcome from their education.

“This is one of the many investments we are undertaking that will expand primary and secondary school provision in and around Shrewsbury. The new build provides a range of spaces needed to respond to the increasing demand for pupil places, and will give local children a greater opportunity to access education within the locality.

“I applaud the work carried out, and want to thank and congratulate everyone involved in helping us work towards sustainable schools for the future.

“This is a fantastic example for Shropshire Council to uphold.”

Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for climate change, natural assets and the green economy, said:-

“It was fantastic to go and see the completed school build on Featherbed Lane, which has seen the expansion of Harlescott Junior School and the relocation of Sundorne Infant School and Explorers Nursery, and that this education provision is now fully operational and occupied by staff and pupils.

“Schools sit at the very heart of our communities, presenting a valuable opportunity to influence positive behaviours and strengthen support for our net zero transition. This is a fantastic achievement and an excellent example of forward thinking, in working towards net zero.

“The new school’s high quality facilities and learning environment will make a real difference to the lives of pupils and their teachers.”

Haughmond Federation’s new building – main entrance. Photo credit: Pave Aways Ltd.

Steven Owen, Pave Aways Ltd’s Managing Director, said:-

“This scheme has not only provided state of the art facilities for the education of our future generations, but it has done so in the most sustainable way possible. As a fossil free building, every year its rating will get better and better as it won’t use the carbon that a fossil reliant building requires and, over time, it will add back to the environment with the trees that have been planted.

“Utilising our supply chain of sub-contractors and suppliers based within a 25-mile radius of Shrewsbury has also has a positive effect on the local economy, pumping millions of pounds back into the Shropshire area, and a massive impact on skills in the construction sector.

“As well as our own team developing their knowledge and practical ability in low, net or zero carbon building methods, businesses in our supply chain that have worked with us have learned new skills that they can take away, implement and use on other contracts.”

Steph Peters, Executive Headteacher, Haughmond Federation, added:-

“We were delighted to have the official opening of our schools and share the wonderful new facilities. The children are thoroughly enjoying being in the new school, and we are very much looking forward to exploring all the new opportunities that all being on one site will bring.”

You can view a video from Pave Aways Ltd that shows the development from beginning to end here: https://vimeo.com/715196103/931b9df7a7