Services:

New build extension to existing primary school.

Client:

Ealing Borough Council

Loddon Primary School provides quality education for children between the ages of 2–11 years, and at full capacity educates 600 pupils within a spacious learning environment. As the school is expanding to a 3-form entry, Francis Construction were appointed to carry out phased alterations and extensions to the south side of the existing school buildings.

The phased scheme includes a new main entrance/reception, together with new staff/visitor WCs, studio, domestic kitchen and associated storage and plant room. The main feature of the phased construction is the contemporary new main hall (above and opposite), with the conversion of the old school hall into three new classrooms, together with toilet facilities and storage. An existing PE store to the hall has been converted and refurbished to become a multi-use group room.

External play areas are extended in size to meet the requirements for the increase in pupil capacity, with the introduction of a MUGA sports pitch to the south end of the playing field.

The final construction phase of the project completed on time in November 2018.

As members of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, we acknowledged the impact that we had during the construction process and our day-to-day activities on site at Loddon Primary – and within the surrounding area, particularly with the site located off a busy road with members of the public and local businesses present on a daily basis.

We carefully strategised how we managed our site set up, materials deliveries, and hours of working within a live environment. We maintained a commitment to keeping the working community and the public informed, so that residents, parents, staff members and visitors were aware of project status and progress developments.

Pre-Construction
Design workshops were set up with Wokingham Borough Council, Frankhams (the Client’s project team), together with senior staff from the primary school and our supply chain specialists. The outcome of the workshops ensured that the scope of the design was understood and implementation from pre-start to handover was carefully mapped and considered. Stakeholders benefitted from the opportunity to provide feedback and share in the overall process.

The community and local businesses were kept informed through leaflets and a letter drop.

Engagement with our supply chain partners was managed on a one-to-one basis; in addition, a Supply Chain Forum provided an opportunity for new and existing subcontractors and suppliers to meet and discuss the project with senior management and buyers.

Officials from Wokingham Borough Council were engaged at an early stage through site visits, which continued with regularity throughout the programme.

Construction
During the construction phase, monthly progress meetings with the Client and the project team ensured that key activities on the build programme were discussed and noted; weekly look-ahead elements were communicated to stakeholders via regular reports and key project stages were set out in newsletters to the school. Supply chain/subcontractor meetings were held at site on a daily basis; these included site inductions to ensure that subcontractors were engaged with the programme and quality targets. Weekly management meetings provided the opportunity for an ‘open door policy’ feedback on progress, planned activities, health and safety and any issues arising.

As part of our Site Waste Management plan, we engaged with a local community wood recycling company. All site waste timber was collected and reused, providing a sustainable outcome to waste materials while supporting local employment for disadvantaged.