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Celebrations in Shrewsbury for new carbon neutral educational facilities

MHA Architects are delighted to celebrate the opening of Sundorne Infant School and Harlescott Junior Schools’ new ‘state of the art’ buildings on Featherbed Lane in north Shrewsbury.

MHA were appointed to design the new build schemes which were contracted to Pave Aways Ltd. The schools’ designs used innovative building methods as part of the Shrewsbury Council’s ambitions to deliver more sustainable projects to meet its 2030 ‘zero’ carbon targets.

Accommodation at the new Sundorne Infant 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. Harlescott Junior School comprises 4 classrooms for Kay 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.

MHA Director, Jimmy Lennon, said "this has been a fantastic scheme for the Team at MHA to develop, not only for the worthwhile faciltiies it provides for the pupils in Shrewsbury but the challenge and learning we have undertaken to deliver a sustainable, carbon neutral scheme which will protect the environment. My thanks to Jess Pillay and Daniel Hudspith for their hard work in delivering this successful scheme."

Councillor Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said:

“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.

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.”

Pave Aways Ltd Managing Director Steven Owen added:

“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.”

Take a look around the school’s development from start to finish with Pave Away’s video https://vimeo.com/715196103/931b9df7a7

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