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Shortwood
Primary School
7
The school aims to enhance the educational experience
and have as small an environmental impact as possible,
whilst improving the ecological value of the area. The design
incorporates natural features of the site, by re-modelling and
formalising the shape of the existing pond and adapting the
floor plan to accommodate a mature oak tree into the design.
Shortwood Primary School was developed to
accommodate children from two existing schools
which were amalgamated; Barn Farm Infant school and
Ercall Junior School. The site for the new school is
located in Wellington, Telford; and was previously the
playing fields of the Old Hall School, a privately run prep
school which relocated to another site in Wellington.
construction works and minimise the import of new
construction materials it was decided to incorporate a
number of the original buildings on the site into the
design of the final scheme. The original brick and tile
nursery building has been extended and refurbished
to form the foundation unit of the new Primary School;
and the Grade 2 listed barn was restored, and is
currently being fitted out to accommodate a new
enlarged library.
Richard Holt
Principal Architect
Architecture Landscape
and Building
Telford & Wrekin Council
T: 01952 384503
E: Richard.Holt@
telford.gov.uk
General view of the site showing new and
existing buildings grouped around the pond
The project has been designed by Telford & Wrekin
Council’s in-house Architecture, Landscape and
Building design team- a multi disciplinary unit
comprising architects, quantity surveyors, M&E
engineers, landscape architects and building
surveyors who are part of the Asset & Property
Management Service Area. The scheme was partially
funded by the sale for development of the land
released from one of the original school sites, and as
such the role of the Council’s Asset & Property Service
Area in land assembly, disposal, design, project
management and contract administration has been
crucial in delivering a successful scheme.
The school has a total floor area of 2,344m 2 and is
predominantly a new build, single storey, framed
construction. In order to save cost, minimise
All three buildings are linked together via an enclosed
glass walkway to control access, offering a secure,
enclosed environment for the children’s safety, and
presenting a unified site. The new building and the
extension to the nursery building has been
constructed to maximise the use of daylight with large
windows and roof lights used throughout. The existing
swimming pool has been upgraded and re-furbished
to provide an excellent resource for both this school
and other schools within the Borough.
The school grounds have been laid out to provide an
environmental educational resource, and are to be
planted and developed over several years by pupils and
staff from the school. An area has been allocated
A view of the school grounds
Highly Commended
in the Civic Building
of the Year Award 2008
sponsored by
NPS Group Property
Consultants.

8 Shortwood Primary School
“Large windows
and roof lights are
used to increase
natural daylight
and reduce energy
consumption.”
A typical example of the care and attention to detail shown in the design
for new woodland to increase the diversity of tree
species and to encourage wildlife and a variety of bird
species. Other areas have been set aside for wildflower
meadows, new habitat areas, a wormery and mini
beast shelters; the completion of which will improve the
diversity of wildlife within the school grounds.
The existing pond is being restored to a diverse aquatic
habitat, with marginal, floating and submerged plants,
a pond dipping platform, a boardwalk over a marshy
area and a nesting place for moorhens, extending
educational opportunities for the school. An enormous
amount of attention has been paid in detailing the
building and the external spaces in order to create a
safe and secure environment for the children.
The school creates a stimulating educational
environment where the building and its environment
become part of the educational process. Energy use,
carbon dioxide production and rainwater harvesting/
re-cycling is recorded and displayed on information
panels which are accessible to the children and staff,
providing information on the day to day consumption
and re-cycling of energy and water.
• The renovation and re-use of existing buildings
on the site helping to reduce the consumption of
natural resources and creating a more sustainable
environment.
• Large windows and roof lights are used to increase
natural daylight and reduce energy consumption
and are inter-linked via. automatic sensors which
control the amount of natural “stack” ventilation
reducing the need for mechanical ventilation.
• Overhanging roofs help control solar gain.
• The services installation includes highly efficient
light fittings with interactive daylight sensors,
which react to the amount of natural/artificial light
minimising energy use.
• The heating system utilises bio-mass boilers
feeding an under floor heating installation.
• Use of a part sedum roof to control rainwater
run-off. All surface-water is directed to a large,
underground rain-water attenuation tank.
• In addition to minimising energy consumption, the
project includes a grey-water system, re-cycling
rainwater to flush the toilets within the school.
Where possible, construction techniques achieving an
“A” rating within the BRE green guide have been used,
and the design of the building incorporates elements
of sustainable construction, including:
The “carbon footprint” is less than a third of that
produced by an equivalent sized school, built to
traditional standards. The average primary school within
the UK produces 51kg CO 2 per m 2 (figure based on

10 Shortwood Primary School
“The Partnering
team were
pro-active during all
stages of the project
indenting potential
cost savings using
“Value Engineering”
work shops and
other techniques.”
A view showing many of the innovative
features of the design promoting learning
and minimising energy use
DSCF data) which for a school the size of Short Wood
would equate to 120 tonne of CO 2 per year. However,
as a result of its design, the carbon footprint has been
reduced by 72%, which on average is a reduction in
emissions of more than 85 tonne of CO 2 per year.
Whilst the services main role is to prove a comfortable
and pleasant working environment with minimal
environmental impact, more innovative systems
function as teaching aids in promoting the benefits of
sustainable technologies and communicating the direct
benefits to the children. Each sustainable/renewable
technology is accessible to the children and teaching
staff ie. the boiler house has been constructed with a
glass wall that includes a local display showing the
activity and consumption of the biomass technology
used in heating their school. The rainwater harvesting
system has an educational pack linked to the national
curriculum with a local display showing the children
how much water has been collected and money saved.
In addition, the low wattage LED architectural lighting
uses less energy than two standard external light
fittings and includes an interactive panel which enables
the children to interact with the school lighting scheme.
After a competitive tendering process the construction
contract was let to Thomas Vale Construction Ltd.
using the ACA PPC 2000 Form of Contract, on a
two stage basis, including early contractor
involvement prior to commencing on site (stage 1)
and the construction phase (phase 2).
The Partnering team developed and agreed a
“Target Cost” with Thomas Vale with agreed pain/gain
arrangements and fixed preliminaries, overheads and
profit with details of all project costs on an “open
book” basis. The contractual arrangements provided
an incentive to the Partnering team to complete the
project on time and within budget with the client and
contractor sharing any savings.
The contractor and their specialist sub-contractors
worked very closely with the design team and the
client in the development of the design including its
“build ability”, specification, price, programming and
supply chain appointments including the tendering of
sub-contract packages prior to commencement on site.
The early involvement of the contractor, and their
specialist sub-contractors during the design stage
lead to significant innovation in building techniques,
costs, time efficiencies and ultimately best value
for money. The Partnering team were pro-active
during all stages of the project indenting potential
cost savings using “Value Engineering” work shops
and other techniques.
The key to the success of this project was the strong
commitment to “team working” with all parties working
together during all stages of the project, solving
problems and difficulties together as they arose rather
than blaming each other.
The team worked very closely to monitor Actual costs
against the Target cost during the construction of the
project and in the final analysis the project was a
considerable success, being delivered below budget
and on time. Ultimately, the success of Shortwood
School came down to the positive relationship that
was created between the design team and the
contractor. All parties involved in the project, working
together with the enthusiasm, commitment and desire
to achieve a successful outcome.
Since its completion in September 2007, the school
has been so successful in attracting new pupils that a
number of alterations to the building are already
under-way. School numbers are increasing, the library
area is being enlarged and facilities for the Nursery
and “Out of Hours Family Centre” are in the process of
being extended.

Shortwood Primary School 11
Credits
Designed by Telford & Wrekin Council’s in-house Architecture, Landscape and Building design team - a multi
disciplinary unit comprising architects, quantity surveyors, M&E engineers, landscape architects and building
surveyors who are part of the Asset & Property Management Service Area.
Contractor: Thomas Vale Construction Ltd.
Elemental breakdown of building costs £
1. Works to extend and refurbish the existing nursery inc
2. Works to existing listed barn (excluding M&E) £265,837
3. Main school building:
Sub-structure £692,982 Steel frame/glulam beams £287,172
Brickwork and blockwork £231,468 External windows and doors £237,712
Roof (standing seam/sedum) £574,128 Partitions, plastering, suspended ceilings £322,558
Carpentry first and second fix £273,735 Floor screed £33,451
Fire protection £25,451 Folding partitions £9,806
IPS/W.C. cubicles/vanity units £28,758 Decoration £39,084
Floor finishes £57,869 Fittings £184,009
Balustrades £34,106 Kitchen equipment £59,160
Blinds £7,904 Wall tiling £4,927
Mansafe system £2,904 Kitchen shutters £3,403
Active boards £46,371
£3,156,958
“Ultimately, the
success of
Shortwood School
came down to the
positive relationship
that was created
between the
design team and
the contractor.”
4. Mechanical installations £475,577
5. Electrical installations £474,833
6. External works £730,335
7. Preliminaries £673,993
TOTAL £5,777,533
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