Wiltshire Council has approved a £14.6m expansion of Sarum Academy in Salisbury. The project adds 300 secondary school places and includes a new two-storey science block designed to net zero carbon, an artificial sports pitch, and a refurbished teaching block. Morgan Sindall Construction will deliver the work, with completion expected by the end of 2027.
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Nice to see a school project actually publish the carbon numbers. The 21 tonnes saved from not moving 20,000 m3 of earth is a concrete detail, but I would like to know the full lifecycle footprint, not just the savings. Net zero science block sounds good until you see what it includes. Still, better than the usual vague sustainability statement.
The carbon tool mention is interesting. If they can show the baseline and the reduced design, this sets a useful precedent for public sector builds. But 'net zero' needs a definition here. Does it mean operational energy only, or does it include embodied carbon in the concrete and steel? That distinction matters.
Net zero science block on a live school site. I hope they have a plan for the energy supply. Heat pumps and PV are fine, but if the grid connection is weak, the school may still burn gas during peak times. Any detail on the mechanical systems or just the building envelope?
The Social Value Charter is a nice touch, but the bigger question is how Wiltshire plans to maintain these buildings once the capital funding runs out. Net zero design only works if the school can afford the maintenance and the council has staff who understand the systems. Otherwise it is just a press release.
Refurbishing part of the existing block is the right call. New build gets the attention, but the existing teaching block will still be leaking energy. I hope the refurb includes insulation and ventilation upgrades, not just a fresh coat of paint. Also, 20,000 m3 of earth avoided is huge, good on them for questioning the original design.
