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Stoneham Park Academy
The Challenge
The project team faced several significant challenges throughout delivery.
Construction progressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring adherence to evolving government guidance while maintaining programme, budget and quality standards.
Early design coordination was critical because the building was constructed using the Streif offsite modular timber system, which required detailed collaboration between designers, suppliers and subcontractors before manufacture could commence.
In addition, the scheme experienced a significant volume of design and contract changes that needed careful management without affecting programme milestones
The Solution
Morgan Sindall and Hampshire County Council adopted a highly collaborative approach, engaging key M&E subcontractors early to coordinate design and ensure fabrication could commence on schedule.
Extensive factory visits and quality assurance reviews were undertaken in Germany to verify manufacturing processes and component quality.
The use of the Streif advanced timber panel system enabled much of the construction work to be completed offsite, reducing programme risk, improving quality control and minimising site-based labour requirements.
The school’s fabric-first design, combined with mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) and solar PV technology, delivers enhanced energy performance and reduced operating costs.
The Results
Stoneham Park Academy was successfully handed over in July 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, delivered safely, on time, on budget and to a high quality standard.
The project achieved a final cost of £6.64m, approximately 1% below the approved budget, and completed 11 weeks ahead of the original programme.
The academy now provides state-of-the-art educational facilities including 11 classrooms, specialist teaching spaces, sports facilities, extensive outdoor learning areas and a forest school.
The project has also received industry recognition through shortlisting at the Structural Timber Awards and success at the LABC People and Places Awards.
80
Number of Trainee Weeks
£842,137
Added Value
9/10
Client Satisfaction
Client Testimonials
Atlantic House
The Challenge
The brief was to repurpose three floors of office space, providing TVP with a facility that delivers the operational requirements for the area. Completion of the project would allow TVP to consolidate its operations, and transition from its former premises.
The Solution
Willmott Dixon carried out a full refurbishment of more than 37,000 sq ft across three floors of Atlantic House, transforming the space into a modern, operationally efficient police station. The works included new ceilings, partitions, high-quality finishes, and upgraded MEP systems to ensure long-term performance.
The design focused on functionality and staff wellbeing, with new locker and shower facilities, as well as communal breakout areas to support collaboration. Sustainability was embedded throughout, with improvements targeting BREEAM ‘Very Good’ and reducing the building’s environmental impact
The Results
A modern, efficient police station for TVP
Enhanced wellbeing and collaborative facilities for staff
Reduced environmental impact through sustainable design and MEP systems
Social value through local supplier partnerships, engagement with schools and colleges, and employment opportunities
10
Apprentices
£11,440,152
SME Spend
£554,000
SROi
8/10
Client Satisfaction
Client Testimonials
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Legacy
Willmott Dixon Interiors provided employment opportunities to 24 individuals living within 10 miles of the site. Among them, four had previously faced long-term unemployment before joining our project, demonstrating our commitment to supporting local communities and helping people back into work.
Sustainability
100% waste diverted from landfill
Safe
Zero RIDDORS
Fair
100% payment within 30 days terms
Aftercare
Soft landings for handover
Headington Hill campus at Oxford Brookes University
The Challenge
Oxford Brookes University embarked on a major transformation to bring all its departments together on a single Headington Hill Oxford campus for the first time in its history. The Headington Hill site is a site with rich heritage with the listed Headington Hill Hall and nestled within the unique Headington Hill parkland conservation area. One of the buildings was once the home to the Richard Hamilton School of Arts, the former stables and some humanities teaching spaces had all previously felt isolated and disconnected. By relocating the satellite buildings and connecting them, the university was determine to further foster a more connected academic community, where subjects such as Arts, Architecture, and Engineering could be taught side by side.
The Solution
The new development works hard to deliver modern functionality and purpose, while respecting the conservation and heritage setting of the listed Headington Hill Hall. The space is arranged over two buildings which are designed to stimulate further collaboration and partnerships among university faculties, students and private sector.
The Teaching Building is a dynamic, three-story space open 24/7 for students and staff. It includes robotics labs, 3D printers, design studios, exhibition areas, a digital theatre and a Virtual Reality Cave. The central atrium sites a café that is open to the community and provides an inviting space for creativity, collaboration, and community. Showcasing a real Formula 1 car on display, the building also serve as the new base for Oxford Brookes Racing, the University’s renowned student racing team, emphasising the opportunity to learn while connect engineering knowledge to the high-performance motorsport.
The Workshop Building is a specialist building with a focus on supporting mechanical engineering students and houses industry-standard manufacturing workshops, a wind tunnel and engine test cells.
The Results
The project makes use of underutilised assets at Headington Hill with the new buildings designed to encourage collaboration, cross pollination, inspiration and resource sharing. Students and staff can benefit from each other’s expertise, sparking new ideas across disciplines.
The area’s heritage and old stables are celebrated through the design using zinc cladding and gabled forms, while connecting the park and campus is a beautiful thought-out landscape surrounding that provides key views with both inward and outward perspectives. By linking the new facilities with the northern end of the main university, Oxford Brookes has also created a safer, more cohesive environment for students and staff.
This project has helped link the Oxford Brookes University sites at Headington Hill, Clive Booth Student Village and Gipsy Lane, improving connections and strengthening the University’s relationship with the local community.
39
Apprentices
£17,647,610
SME Spend
£143,900
SROi
8.5/10
Client Satisfaction
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Legacy
1010 Training weeks, 16 local jobs, 54 work placements,
2 year out placements from Oxford Brookes University and x5 Building Lives academies (40 students)
27 careers guidance events and 2 ROTL Placements,
Safe
Zero RIDDORS
Fair
100% payment within 30 days terms
Aftercare
Soft landings for handover
Client Testimonials
300 Harrow Road
The Challenge
This is the first major development completed under Westminster City Council’s Fairer Westminster strategy, underlining the local authority’s commitment to provide more affordable housing.
The Solution
The development includes homes available for both social rent and affordable intermediate rent. This includes studios and one-bed homes available for intermediate rent, while homes with at least two bedrooms are available for social rent to meet the need for family-sized homes in Westminster.
The Results
A notable achievement is that this development is the first in the country to provide the highest airflow rates for any heating and cooling system of its type. This keeps homes at the desired temperature all year round and at a low cost.
Residents have also benefited from the use of air source heat pumps, solar panels, rainwater collection and living roofs, resulting in lower energy bills and a reduction in carbon emissions. The air source heat pumps, which provide heating and cooling to tenants, are 300 per cent more efficient than standard gas boilers.
Alongside the new homes, Willmott Dixon have delivered wider benefits for the community. These include a new enterprise space, community centre and an early year’s childcare facility. Throughout the works the project provided employment opportunities and skills initiatives with apprenticeships and work placements for local people, with 15 jobs for Westminster residents created through the project.
By improving public green spaces, the project has reconnected the Warwick Estate with the wider neighbourhood and open up access to the Grand Union canal The community centre building will also provide space for a housing hub facility providing better access for local residents to their housing services.
The nursery space will provide space for 60 local children across the Early Years Foundation Stage age groups with a new secure playground.
36
Number of apprentices
53,542,317
SME Spend
23,597,717.76
SROi
9/10
Client Satisfaction
Client Testimonials
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Legacy
10 site visits attended by school children 1680 hours helping unemplyed people with interview prep and mock interviews
Aftercare
Won 2024 best affordable Housing development £20+ at the Inside Housing Awards
Sustainability
100% waste diverted from landfill
Fair
100% payment within 30 days terms
Safe
Zero RIDDORS
Horsham Blue light – Platinum House
The Challenge
The live fire training building is the first of its kind in the UK. Owing to the unique design, there was no existing test data available to confirm the fire’s interaction with the building structure tiles used in its construction.
The design and development process faced unexpected hurdles, taking place during the challenging COVID period. An inflation in material prices threatened to significantly increase predicted costs. However, through value engineering and a series of clever design adjustments, Willmott Dixon were able to produce a solution that satisfied both West Sussex Council and Fire and Rescue service. The team’s dedication to innovation and problem-solving allowed us to overcome the obstacles presented by the pandemic and deliver a successful project.
To ensure the success of this project, we at Wilmott Dixon conducted extensive performance testing on the thermal tiles used in its construction. Our tests confirmed that these tiles can withstand even the most extreme burn environments
The live fire training building is the first of its kind in the UK. Due to the unique design, there was no existing test data available to confirm the fire’s interaction with the building structure.
The Solution
To ensure the success of this project, Wilmott Dixon conducted extensive performance testing on the thermal tiles used in its construction.
The Results
Our tests confirmed that these tiles can withstand even the most extreme burn environments.
Key features include a combined training tower and breathing apparatus facility, and a realistic live fire training area. The high-tech premises includes a residential element for new recruit training, an incident command training facility, realistic road traffic collision training area and rooms for digital simulations.
£15,551,962
SME Spend
£1.5m
SROi
9/10
Client Satisfaction
Client Testimonials
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Legacy
378 trainee weeks 703 hours in Careers support Donated £1500 249 hours school engagement
Sustainability
Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy sources such as solar panels (above) and air source heat pumps to provide heating, as well as electric vehicle charging points, in-line with the county council’s drive to become carbon neutral by 2030
Fair
100% payment within 30 days terms
Safe
Zero RIDDORS
Aftercare
Soft landings for handover
SMART Centre, South Coast Institute of Technology
–The Challenge
Transforming a tired 1960s Sir Christopher Cockerell Building into a state-of-the-art engineering and maritime technology centre required far more than a conventional refurbishment.
Early investigations uncovered a fragile roof structure with asbestos-containing components, rendering the original design unviable and requiring a fundamental rethink of the construction strategy.
The project also had to preserve the building’s operational marine tow tank, maintain critical live services feeding neighbouring university buildings and safely deliver major structural works within a live campus environment.
All of this had to be achieved without compromising programme, quality or safety, while creating a future-ready facility capable of supporting advanced engineering, robotics and maritime education for decades to come and in time for the start of the 2025/26 academic year.
The Solution
Francis Construction adopted a collaborative, design-led approach that transformed a major project risk into an opportunity for innovation. Working closely with the client, consultants and specialist supply chain during the PCSA, the team fundamentally re-engineered the original solution by replacing the fragile roof with a modern flat roof system while retaining the existing structural frame.
This not only reduced embodied carbon and improved the building’s long-term performance, but also enhanced internal teaching spaces and enabled future renewable energy generation.
Through meticulous planning, phased construction, digital project management and early specialist contractor involvement, the team safely delivered a technically complex refurbishment while maintaining live university operations and achieving programme certainty.
The Results
The SMART Centre stands as a flagship example of how collaborative refurbishment can deliver exceptional environmental, educational and social value.
The project successfully transformed a 60-year-old engineering building into a future-ready centre of excellence, providing over 2,000m² of world-class laboratories and workshops while retaining the original steel structure and reducing embodied carbon by up to 75%.
The project exceeded the client’s sustainability aspirations by achieving SKA Silver, supported the local economy through significant regional supply chain investment, and was delivered with 64,140 hours worked, zero RIDDOR incidents and zero lost-time accidents.
Completed in time for the 2025/26 academic year and officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal, the SMART Centre is now helping to develop the next generation of engineers, maritime professionals and innovators, leaving a lasting legacy for Southampton Solent University and the wider South Coast region.
75%
Reduction in Embodied Carbon
£3.2m (approximately 66%)
Spent with Hampshire-Based Local Supply Chain Partners
80%
Locally Sourced Materials
64,140 hours
Zero RIDDOR Incidents and Zero Lost-Time Accidents
20
Apprentices and Provided Live Site Visits for Construction Management Students
Achieved SKA Silver
Good Practice Measures
Completed in time for the 25–26
Completion
Client Testimonials
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Legacy
SMART Centre strengthens the regional engineering and maritime skills pipeline
Supporting the South Coast Institute of Technology
Apprenticeships and student engagement
Sustainability
Retained primary structure
Reduced embodied carbon by up to 75%
Future-ready roof for PVs, SKA Silver
Safe
64,140 hours worked with zero RIDDORs and zero lost-time accidents
Phased roof replacement
Crash decks
Segregated live campus access
Fair
Collaborative two-stage procurement
Open-book cost planning
Early supply-chain engagement
Prompt payment practices
Aftercare
Digital handover through Procore providing a single source of truth with QA records
Drawings and asset information
Hopescourt SEN School
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The Challenge
With a growing demand for SEND spaces, Surrey County Council had to find a solution which could provide as many opportunities as possible for local children with SEND requirements.
As the site was an old landfill that had been soiled over years ago, we also had to identify a strategy which prevented a significant amount of top soil from leaving site, to avoid additional carbon emissions and traffic in the local area.
–
The Solution
We created a fenced off exclusion zone for the Exolum Pipeline, which was carefully monitored throughout the project. In addition to regular progress updates with Exolum, we sought approval for any works within 3 meters of the zone, with a representative from Exolum present to witness. As a result our operations had no impact on the gas main.
Through a comprehensive remediation strategy we were able to sieve and clean the top soil to ensure its safe reuse on site. An additional layer of top soil was also installed to ensure the students never come into contact with any landfill materials, providing peace of mind.
The Results
The new school sets the benchmark for sustainable SEND schools, with tailored learning facilities which provide 150 additional local students with the opportunity to thrive in an environment that meets their individual needs. Sensory circuit rooms have been created to help children regulate their senses, alongside a dedicated quiet room attached to each classroom to help with over-stimulation. Each room has a glass vision panel to ensure teachers always have sight and learning can continue undisrupted. The school also promotes inclusivity and prevents bullying by adopting open-plan unisex toilets and wider corridors to accommodate those with disabilities.
Not only has this school created new job opportunities for local people but many students are seeing overall wellbeing improvements due to no longer having to drive up to 2 hours out of the county to attend school. Long term energy in-use monitoring means the school will continue to operate as efficiently as possible to allow even more students to benefit form this supportive learning environment.
396
Apprentice training weeks
67%
SME Spend
£2,239,540
SROI
8/10
Client Satisfaction
Client Testimonials
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Legacy
6 work experience students, 135 pupils engaged and 16 apprentices
212 site operatives within 10 miles
Sustainability
up to 15% carbon and cost saving through post-occupation energy monitoring
99.9% construction waste diverted from landfill
Safe
Zero RIDDORS
Fair
100% payment within 30 days terms
Aftercare
Soft landings for handover
InterCity Place
The Challenge
InterCity Place is a ten-storey former office building completed in 1962 as part of Plymouth Railway Station and in line with the post war Abercrombie plan for Plymouth. The building had lain dormant for at least a decade and at time of possession was in a semi-derelict condition.
In 2018 the opportunity to take a long lease of the former InterCity House building arose and the University embarked on a transformational project to revitalise the building. InterCity Place provides the start of a new chapter for the University’s health education.
InterCity Place brings together the University’s School of Health Professions and School of Nursing and Midwifery. It co-locates two complementary groups of future healthcare workers where they have previously been dispersed at various sites across Plymouth.
The Solution
To overcome these constraints, the team delivered a full design‑and‑build refurbishment centred on a bespoke new façade system and re‑engineered building services solution suited to the tight site and railway restrictions.
A specialist temporary‑works approach was developed with KPS and Mabey, including cantilevered scaffold brackets fixed to first‑floor columns and movement‑monitoring systems, enabling safe façade removal and replacement without disrupting rail operations.
Internally, the building was redesigned floor‑by‑floor to house clinical simulation suites, physiotherapy and neurophysiology labs, and specialist teaching environments, while a technical MEP redesign introduced decentralised MVHR units and coordinated ventilation through the new façade.
Fire integrity issues were resolved through the application of Mandolite cementitious spray to provide 120‑minute protection across all floors.
Fire integrity issues were resolved through the application of Mandolite cementitious spray to provide 120‑minute protection across all floors.
The Results
The completed Intercity Place provides the University of Plymouth with a flagship, modern facility supporting the training of nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals.
The project achieved high sustainability standards, including SKA Gold, and significantly improved the building’s performance through natural light optimisation, localised ventilation systems and the integration of roof‑mounted PV panels. Despite the high‑risk, constrained environment and extensive technical challenges, the project delivered a high‑quality education and clinical‑training space, strengthened by strong collaboration with stakeholders and praised by the client for its innovation, attention to detail and delivery standards.
9
Number of apprentices
2435 Students
Engaged with us
Client Testimonials
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Fair
For the main works each package was carefully considered on its own merit and procured through a competitive tendering process. Enquiries were issued to local known companies and on a national level to increase the supply chain network. Expectations regarding pricing, delivery, programme and payment terms were clearly communicated and this ensured trust was built from the start and minimised any misunderstanding.
The team ensured that prices offered by suppliers were fair and competitive within the industry. Fair pricing incentivises suppliers to work safely, maintain quality and meet required timeframes. The payment terms negotiated ensured they that were fair to both parties and considered factors such as the supplier’s cash flow needs and the nature of the goods or services provided. The project also operated HSE and Quality based incentivisation such a vouchers to promote exemplar standards.
Sustainability
We achieved EPC B on a 1960’s building and In 2023, the University became only the second UK university to be externally verified as carbon neutral, and the commitments which led to that have been continued through InterCity Place. The project is rated SKA Gold, and over 1,800 tonnes of embodied carbon have been saved by re-using the existing structural frame rather than building from new.
The true social influence of the building will be demonstrated over coming years. However, since it opened in August 2023, it has led to increased interest in the University’s healthcare programmes. This includes a rise in the number of students placing Plymouth as their preferred study destination. Ultimately, this will help one of the NHS’s key objectives outlined in the 2020/21 People Plan and the current NHS Long Term Plan.
Safe
Although InterCity Place was outside the scope of Building Safety Act Kier insured the principles of the Golden Thread were taken into account by ensuring the traceability of fire protection measures and ensuring that the right people have the right information at the right time to ensure buildings are safe and building safety risks are managed throughout the building’s lifecycle. In addition the fireproofing had to increase from 30min to 120 min fire resistance to the soffits and columns because of the change from office to education use, requiring compliance with current building regulation standards and the reduction of the concrete upstands to facilitate the new façade weight.
During construction, there were a small number of isolated health and safety challenges. The site management team took responsibility for these and as part of the ‘no blame’ culture, which encourages honesty and transparency, took these as learning opportunities to be shared with the teams. Kier received specific praise from the Southern Construction Framework for the way they cascaded learning from these incidents to wider supply chain members on the framework.
Legacy
The construction delivered two new graduate positions, 25 new sub-contractor qualifications, seven apprenticeships, 71 short duration industry certificates and training courses, 19 placement weeks on site, and provided 31 hours at construction careers information advice and guidance events. The site team also engaged with 2,388 university construction and architectural students.
Aftercare
The new occupants continue to provide positive feedback on the specialist teaching and research spaces provided. Early indications from student open days are also encouraging with greater numbers of first preference applications being received. The enhanced specialist teaching and research facilities coupled with the latest IT and AV solutions, have transformed the teaching and learning environment.
Exeter Bus Station
The Challenge
The former bus station, over 60 years old, was deteriorating, suffered water ingress, and no longer met the needs of a modern transport hub. It occupied a large city centre site, required full redevelopment, and the ground beneath was heavily contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals, necessitating remediation before work could proceed.
The project also required a significant archaeological investigation, where Roman remains and features were uncovered, carefully recorded, mapped and reburied without delaying the programme. At the same time, parts of the existing bus station had to remain operational during construction, requiring major logistical planning, route changes, and extensive community communication. ‑centre site, required full redevelopment, and the ground beneath was heavily contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals, necessitating remediation before work could proceed.
The project also required a significant archaeological investigation, where Roman remains and features were uncovered, carefully recorded, mapped and reburied without delaying the programme. At the same time, parts of the existing bus station had to remain operational during construction, requiring major logistical planning, route changes, and extensive community communication.
The Solution
Kier delivered the project under a design and build contract, progressing an existing Stage 3 design into a coordinated Stage 4 solution with Arup and Space & Place. The new bus station was constructed on piled foundations with a steel frame, standing seam roof and full height glazed concourse frontage that provides a modern, welcoming arrival experience. Accessibility was deeply embedded into the design, with full level access, automated doors, wayfinding colour schemes developed with local RNIB groups, and an enclosed passenger concourse featuring ticketing, refreshment facilities, real time information displays, and staff welfare spaces.
Contaminated ground was treated through a bentonite wall and bund system prior to excavation, while archaeological works were completed using GPR scanning and carefully planned trenching.
Throughout the build, Kier maintained partial operation of the existing bus station and shared site logistics with the neighbouring St Sidwell’s Point Leisure Centre.‑seam roof and full‑height glazed concourse frontage that provides a modern, welcoming arrival experience. Accessibility was deeply embedded into the design, with full level access, automated doors, wayfinding colour schemes developed with local RNIB groups, and an enclosed passenger concourse featuring ticketing, refreshment facilities, real‑time information displays, and staff welfare spaces. Contaminated ground was treated through a bentonite wall and bund system prior to excavation, while archaeological works were completed using GPR scanning and carefully planned trenching.
The Results
The completed Exeter Bus Station provides 12 modern bus stands, an enclosed, fully accessible concourse, improved public facilities, and better staff accommodation.
The station now acts as a high‑quality gateway to the city, supporting green transport and aligning with Exeter’s long‑term City Point regeneration plan, unlocking land for up to 500 new homes and further development.
The project achieved BREEAM Very Good with excellent environmental performance, created 83 construction jobs, delivered 27 work placements, 464 waged training weeks, and ensured 69% of the supply chain came from the Devon/Somerset area.
Community disruption was kept extremely low, with the bus complaints hotline “hardly ever ringing” thanks to clear communication throughout. The project successfully navigated through the pandemic, with all external service connections carried out without traffic congestion.
9
Number of apprentices
93.9
SME Spend
2757 Students
Added Value
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Sustainability
Exeter Bus Station was designed with sustainability in mind, achieving BREEAM ‘Very Good’ and an ‘Excellent’ score for energy‑related measures, which reflects a considerate, long‑term approach to performance.
On this long‑used city‑centre plot, the team carefully remediated the brownfield ground—installing a bentonite cut‑off wall and bund, then safely removing hydrocarbon and heavy‑metal contamination—so the site could be enjoyed safely for years to come.
Durable, low‑maintenance finishes were chosen to help the building age gracefully and reduce whole‑life impacts.
The new hub also makes better use of land by bringing operations onto a smaller, more efficient footprint, supporting the wider City Point regeneration in a gentle, joined‑up way.
With 12 modern bus stands and a comfortable enclosed concourse, it encourages everyday journeys by public transport, helping nudge travel habits toward lower‑carbon choices.
Accessibility was shaped with local partners, including the RNIB, so features like level access, automated doors and supportive wayfinding colours make greener travel welcoming and easy for everyone.
The project also took care to respect Exeter’s heritage, using ground‑penetrating radar and carefully planned trenching to record and protect Roman remains discovered on site.
And during construction, sharing site facilities with the neighbouring St Sidwell’s Point project reduced duplication and made thoughtful use of resources.
Legacy
Exeter Bus Station leaves a clear, long‑term legacy for the city: during construction it created apprentice opportunities for nine people, delivered 464 waged training weeks and 27 work placements, and even supported a 45‑week virtual T‑Level programme with Exeter College—building local skills and career pathways that outlast the project itself.
The completed hub is fully accessible and was shaped with local partners such as the RNIB, providing level access throughout, automated doors and intuitive wayfinding colours, so everyday journeys are easier and safer for all users.
By consolidating an outdated facility onto a smaller, more effective footprint, the scheme also helps unlock the wider CityPoint regeneration—freeing up land for up to 500 homes and new mixed uses—while boosting the local economy through 83 construction jobs and a supply chain that drew 69% of its partners from Devon/Somerset.
Safe
Live‑site logistics and stakeholder planning kept passengers segregated during construction; ground contamination was contained and removed; archaeology and services were managed with GPR and controlled trenching; the finished hub uses automated stand doors and inclusive layouts for safe flows; passive fire protection was delivered by certified specialists; and, post‑opening, 24/7 CCTV integration enhances on‑site security.
Aftercare
Delivered under JCT D&B 2016 with SCF’s Handover & Aftercare commitments, the team provided structured training, searchable O&M manuals, early post‑handover on‑site support, an online defects portal and a dedicated defects manager through the Rectification Period; operationally, the Council and Stagecoach have since enhanced safety with 24/7 city‑linked CCTV monitoring.
Fair
69% of the supply chain came from the Devon/Somerset area and accessibility was co‑designed with RNIB and bus user groups—level access throughout, automated doors, and wayfinding colour schemes to ensure equitable use for all passengers. The project ran with extensive stakeholder engagement (bus & coach operators), kept parts of the old station live, and maintained clear public communications—the bus complaints hotline “hardly ever rang.
Brixham Fire Station
The Challenge
The site is located on a busy road through the centre of Brixham with blocks of flats either side and a steep retaining wall to the rear. During the summer period an “embargo” on works to any highway or footpath is strictly enforced by the Local Authority.
The existing building was situated on the edge of the public footpath and had to be carefully demolished by hand.
The project was largely delivered during the Covid lockdown, and it was extremely difficult to deliver the works on such a small and confined site whilst maintaining social distancing. To help with this we used one way systems, allocated staggered breaks, extra cleaning of welfare units.
During the Enabling works, a previously un-identified asbestos lagged pipe was discovered within the ground floor of the old building due for demolition. This required isolation, identification and a 14-day notification to the HSE prior to its removal. The demolition could not be completed until the asbestos was safely removed.
The Solution
The site was situated on a main road with a public footpath across the front, residential flats either side and a steep bank to the rear that required stabilisation. We had to carefully plan the project logistics to maintain the safety of the public, minimise disruption to the town, particularly during the summer tourist months and ensure our site operatives had the space to maintain social distancing. The project team developed and implemented robust control procedures, larger site accommodation and traffic management to mitigate impact on the local road network.
Kier undertook the early demolition of the existing building in order to complete further site investigations and surveys and to minimise the risk of delays and additional costs caused by the discovery of any unknown services, drainage or unexpected ground conditions/features. This offset the programme impact when the asbestos lagged pipe was discovered.
The project went considerably over budget and Kier provided a VE schedule of £200k, however, only £55,683 was eventually taken by the client.
The Results
The station has been designed to make a positive contribution to the environment reducing the building’s carbon footprint. This has been achieved by implementing a fabric first approach with high performing building envelope. This is finished in a combination of metal rainscreen, stonework, profiled metal deck roofing, render and glazing. A roof mounted PV array provides green energy whilst heating is supplied via an air source heat pump to reduce long term operational costs of the facility and minimise carbon creation.
Whilst the external landscape was minimal, it includes a tarmac hardstanding, vehicle wash down attenuation, paving, stone retaining walls and carefully considered planting to enhance biodiversity and the local street scene.
1
Number of apprentices
83%
SME Spend
£323,000
Added Value
9/10
Client Satisfaction
Client Testimonials
Contractor Performance | Commitments
Fair
For the main works each package was carefully considered on its own merit and procured through a competitive tendering process. Enquiries were issued to local known companies and on a national level to increase the supply chain network. Expectations regarding pricing, delivery, programme and payment terms were clearly communicated and this ensured trust was built from the start and minimised any misunderstanding.
The team ensured that prices offered by suppliers were fair and competitive within the industry. Fair pricing incentivises suppliers to work safely, maintain quality and meet required timeframes. The payment terms negotiated ensured they that were fair to both parties and considered factors such as the supplier’s cash flow needs and the nature of the goods or services provided. The project also operated HSE and Quality based incentivisation such a vouchers to promote exemplar standards.
Sustainability
We achieved EPC B on a 1960’s building and In 2023, the University became only the second UK university to be externally verified as carbon neutral, and the commitments which led to that have been continued through InterCity Place. The project is rated SKA Gold, and over 1,800 tonnes of embodied carbon have been saved by re-using the existing structural frame rather than building from new.
The true social influence of the building will be demonstrated over coming years. However, since it opened in August 2023, it has led to increased interest in the University’s healthcare programmes. This includes a rise in the number of students placing Plymouth as their preferred study destination. Ultimately, this will help one of the NHS’s key objectives outlined in the 2020/21 People Plan and the current NHS Long Term Plan.
Legacy
The construction delivered two new graduate positions, 25 new sub-contractor qualifications, seven apprenticeships, 71 short duration industry certificates and training courses, 19 placement weeks on site, and provided 31 hours at construction careers information advice and guidance events. The site team also engaged with 2,388 university construction and architectural students.
Safe
Zero Riddors
Aftercare
The new occupants continue to provide positive feedback on the specialist teaching and research spaces provided. Early indications from student open days are also encouraging with greater numbers of first preference applications being received. The enhanced specialist teaching and research facilities coupled with the latest IT and AV solutions, have transformed the teaching and learning environment.
