Santon Downham Forestry Commission
Sector: Commercial
Framework: SCAPE Regional Construction Framework
Client: Forestry England
Location: Santon Downham, Suffolk
Value: £1.45m
“I would not hesitate in using R G Carter again. They had the right quality of people who actually cared for what they were building and ensured that the quality of the build and materials were of the highest standard.”
Bob Rogers
Project Manager, Forestry England
The Santon Downham project has delivered a lasting contribution to society by modernising Forestry England’s operational infrastructure and creating a sustainable foundation for future growth.
Through the design and construction of new machinery storage facilities, workshops, welfare accommodation, roadways and security upgrades, the project has improved working conditions, safeguarded valuable assets and enhanced operational efficiency for forestry teams.
R G Carter was appointed through the SCAPE Regional Construction Framework to deliver the project, designing and constructing two new machinery storage barns and workshops.
Before the works, all machinery was left open to the elements with little to no security or coverage, and limited welfare facilities. This meant the machines had deteriorated and required regular maintenance checks.
The project involved the delivery of four green steel barn structures to transform Forestry England’s open service yard and provide undercover barn storage space for a range of large plant and smaller equipment used by the forestry team. These changes would help with the upkeep of the idyllic grounds in Suffolk and help protect and preserve the forest for years to come.
During the contract, requirements also changed to include the delivery of additional security measures that would provide additional safeguarding to the wider site.
Throughout the project, Forestry England’s requirements evolved, resulting in several changes to the scope of works, such as the additional security upgrades. To ensure that all stakeholders understood the impact these changes had on cost, programme and delivery timescales, R G Carter implemented a strict change-control process. This provided full transparency for the client, enabling informed decision-making while maintaining project quality and keeping expectations aligned.
Success was driven from the project’s outset, with strong collaboration between Forestry England, Project Manager Bob Rogers and the R G Carter team. Close engagement from all parties through regular progress updates enabled swift decision-making that ensured the scheme was delivered within the challenging 30-week programme established at tender stage.
Client feedback highlighted the team’s exceptional performance, with all commitments met and exceeded, deadlines achieved as agreed and costs managed transparently. The collaborative relationship the teams established ensured the design reflected end-user requirements and supported clear communication, proactive problem-solving and effective stakeholder engagement.
The project delivered high-quality facilities while incorporating sustainable features, including recycling initiatives for construction waste, rainwater harvesting, biofiltration systems and solar energy generation, enhancing the long-term environmental and operational value of the site. The quality of workmanship, specialist subcontractors and site management was consistently praised by Forestry England.
Sustainability credentials
Given the project’s location and Forestry England’s ethos to “place long-term resilience, nature recovery, and community value at the heart of managing the nation's public woodlands”, sustainability was at the core of this project.
Where possible, many sustainable features were incorporated to protect the local environment. Alongside helping Forestry England’s sustainability pledge, two of the barns facilitated rainwater harvesting, with 10,000-litre tanks linked underground via pipework that allows them to fill concurrently. The water collected is now used within the chemical-wash barn for all spraying operations throughout the year, reducing water waste and operational costs.
R G Carter also installed a biofiltration system that naturally filters out the chemicals used in the spraying operations. The system passes dirty water through organic materials containing microorganisms to break down the chemicals via biodegradation, allowing clean water to be dispersed into the soil via a drip line.
The project team also installed a 20kW solar setup on one of the barns, consisting of 40 500w panels with a 20kWh battery storage system. The system links back to a main board, allowing all items within the old walled garden to be powered via the solar or battery.
Why SCAPE?
The SCAPE Regional Construction Framework allowed Forestry England to use a procurement route that accelerated the procurement period and delivery while maintaining compliance. The framework also provided the added benefit of R G Carter’s in-house design capabilities through Carter Design Group throughout the design process, enabling a smooth process for Forestry England from start to finish.
Social value outcomes
This project has been submitted by R G Carter as part of the collaborative Social Value in Construction Benchmarking Report. This report captures the latest insight into the regional and national trends in social value delivery, learn more here.
£1.31m
Social Value generated
20,000 litres
Rainwater storage capacity
92.39%
Waste diverted from landfill
9 weeks
Apprenticeship training
20kW
Solar energy generation
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Owen Cheshire
Framework Manager | Construction
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