The prestigious Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards has announced Glenwood School as the winner in the Community Benefit category. The Special Educational Needs (SEN) school in Benfleet, Essex was recognised for addressing the needs of SEN school places and community facilities in the local area at the RICS East of England Awards, which recognises outstanding developments in the region.

The £15 million scheme was commissioned by Essex County Council through its own construction framework utilising leading property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard for project and cost management services, with design and build expertise being provided by construction firm Morgan Sindall.

“We’re delighted that Glenwood has won this incredibly prestigious award,” said Gary Buick, director at Pick Everard. “This project was delivered to address a chronic shortage of SEN school places in Essex, and the team worked closely with the school to ensure that the design met the needs of the pupils and fitted the ethos of the school.”

The new state-of-the-art building includes 26 classrooms and facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool, swing therapy rooms and a trampoline room to help promote body awareness, sequencing, postural control and organisation of the senses.

“Glenwood School provides the very best support and learning opportunities for children and young adults with special educational needs. The new state-of-the-art facilities will provide a secure and exciting learning space for pupils,” said Gary. “The new building also provides much-needed lettable space for community groups that require accessible facilities including hall spaces, a swimming pool, playing fields and a multi-use games area.”

Councillor Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, named Glenwood School as the perfect example of the investment offered by the council in special school places. “We are committed to ensuring all pupils receive the best possible education and work hard to ensure this is within an environment that meets their individual needs,” he said.

The RICS Awards were held on Friday, the 11th of May, and are the premier property and construction awards in the country, honouring the most innovative projects in the region and their impact on local communities.