£8.5m net-zero school project moves forward

Plans to build one of the first net-zero schools in the country on land near Hinckley have been set in motion after UK contractor Willmott Dixon was appointed to deliver the scheme.Hollycroft Primary School will become part of a huge new development in the area known as Normandy Way, where Bloor Homes is creating a new community consisting of 850 homes, retail space and community facilities.The 210-place primary school will be run by the OWLS (Oadby, Wigston and Leicestershire Schools) Academy Trust.Willmott Dixon, which is building the school on behalf of Leicestershire County Council through Procurement Hub’s Major Projects Framework, is aiming to achieve a BREEAM rating of “Excellent” for the £8.5m project.Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Having worked closely with Leicestershire County Council for many years building innovative new schools, we’re pleased to have another important project underway. It will result in a sustainably-focused school that is not only innovative and flexible, but also supports the local authority’s ambitious net-zero targets.“All over the country, buildings of old have not been designed with the future in mind and this is where our pioneering approach is reinventing standards. Our Energy Synergy™ process will help expose any potential performance gap for the council and consequently offer the opportunity to drive down operational costs – a win for the client and for the environment.”Louise Dodds, client relationship manager for Procurement Hub, said: “This is an exciting project that has been procured through the Major Projects Framework. I’m pleased to be able to work with Leicestershire County Council to assist in delivery of the country’s first net-zero school with framework partner Willmott Dixon.”Cllr Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council’s lead member for children and families, added: “I’m proud to say it will be the first Leicestershire school that will be carbon neutral and pupils that attend will learn in an environment that uses renewable energy, has an ‘A’ energy rating and the latest interactive learning equipment. We hope children will love learning in the new building.”