ASHE Group has been awarded two contracts totalling nearly £30 million to deliver net zero schools for Hertfordshire County Council. The builder has already commenced work on a new £14.5 million primary school, which will be operated by the Avanti Academy Trust.
The new primary school, due to open in September 2023, will provide school places for 420 children living locally. The school will offer up to 30 places at Reception as well as 26 places for nursery aged children each year from September 2023. The school size will increase year on year as the school’s first pupils progress through their school life.
“We’re committed to developing sustainable communities in Hertfordshire, providing residents with the infrastructure needed to make new developments great places to live – this includes providing good local schools which children can walk to,” said Cllr Terry Douris, Executive Member for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning at Hertfordshire County Council.
“The children joining the school in September will have the unique distinction in that they’ll be able to look at the school in 50 years’ time and say that was my school from day one. The school is being built with the future in mind; by prioritising environmental sustainability in construction and operation, we’re taking a big step towards building a cleaner, greener and healthier Hertfordshire.”
The school is planning to generate its own power and be ‘net zero in operation’ using air source heating, photovoltaics and will be gas free, relying on electricity. The project aims to increase the local biodiversity by around 20% with bird and bat boxes, and green roofs included in the scheme. Once completed, the school will be Net Carbon Zero in operation, using only electricity for power and heating, aided by photovoltaic (solar) panels which will help to generate the electricity needed to run the school.
“We are delighted to be breaking ground on yet another Net Zero Carbon School for Hertfordshire County Council. This significant investment in sustainable infrastructure demonstrates Hertfordshire County Council’s intention to address the climate emergency head on, and we are proud to be able to assist in delivering a building that is part of the solution in ensuring that there is a brighter future for the students of Avanti Brook School,” added Andrew Morris, Business Development Director at ASHE Construction.
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