Morgan Sindall Construction has announced the successful completion of the main building phase for the King Henry VIII 3-19 School redevelopment in Abergavenny, a transformative £62.5 million project delivered via the SEWSCAP framework. A celebration was held to mark the handover of the new building to Monmouthshire County Council, with external works scheduled to continue for a further year.
The project delivers a purpose-built, all-through school spanning 15,000 square metres, encompassing 107 teaching spaces for primary, secondary, and sixth form education, alongside wraparound childcare and specialist facilities for children with additional learning needs. External amenities will include a 3G football pitch, a 2G hockey pitch, and a new publicly accessible Active Travel route.
Constructed with a steel frame and incorporating GGBS cement to reduce embodied carbon, the school is Monmouthshire County Council’s first designed to be Net Zero Carbon in operation. Significant sustainability features include photovoltaic (PV) panels for direct power generation, underfloor heating, air source heat pumps, enhanced insulation, and triple-glazed windows. The project’s carbon output has been rigorously monitored using Morgan Sindall’s proprietary CarboniCa tool, and the company applied its 10 Tonne Challenge to identify further emission reductions.
The construction team successfully navigated complex challenges, including high groundwater levels and a sloping site. Early contractor involvement proved pivotal, enabling intelligent design solutions for steelwork, mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems, and groundworks. Notably, the sheet piling design was adapted to preserve a 700-year-old oak tree, which now forms a central landscape feature.
Beyond environmental sustainability, the project delivered substantial social value, creating 60 new jobs for individuals not in education, employment, or training, and supporting 22 new apprentices. The team engaged over 9,300 pupils through STEM activities and ensured 82% of the workforce was sourced from Wales, with 84% of supply chain spend retained locally.
Robert Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Wales, commented: “We’re incredibly proud to have delivered this transformative project for Monmouthshire County Council and the local community. King Henry VIII 3-19 School represents not only a major investment in education but also in sustainable construction and inclusive design. This project is a testament to what can be achieved through early collaboration, intelligent planning, and a shared commitment to creating inspiring learning environments.”
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