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Kier completes new modular school in Ebbsfleet Garden City

Wed, 3rd Nov, 2021 Updated: Fri, 8th Sept, 2023

Kier has recently handed over Ebbsfleet Green Primary to Kent County Council. This project entailed the design and construction of a new modular build two form of entry school in in Ebbsfleet Garden City, the modern village development providing 15,000 new homes in Kent.

The new school offers a wide variety of learning spaces including nursery, reception, infant and junior classrooms, food technology, science and design technology areas. A modular construction solution was selected to meet the tight project timeline. This method of construction involves the offsite production of modules (building components) in a factory setting, which is then transported to site and lifted in place with a tower crane to create the building. Using modular construction saved 8-10 weeks in comparison to a traditional construction programme. 98 modular units, were installed over four one-week phases, lifted in using a 300 tonne mobile crane.

In line with Kier’s Building for a Sustainable World sustainability framework, the new building’s form was designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, reducing the risk of overheating and resulting in a BREEAM very good rating. Materials were responsibly sourced and enhancements to the site’s ecology and long-term biodiversity goals were designed and implemented throughout. Local employment was promoted with 27% of the team living within 10 miles of the site (55% within 20 miles). The project also created three apprenticeships and two work experience placements.

We are delighted to hand this fantastic educational facility over to Kent County Council, it has been a pleasure to work in collaboration with them and Maritime Academy Trust in providing these modern learning spaces to benefit teachers and students in Ebbsfleet Garden City’s expanding community.

David McKenzie, managing director for Kier Construction London, South and Strategic Projects

David continued, "We are delighted to hand this fantastic educational facility over to Kent County Council, it has been a pleasure to work in collaboration with them and Maritime Academy Trust in providing these modern learning spaces to benefit teachers and students in Ebbsfleet Garden City’s expanding community.

The building is a fantastic asset to the development, both in its aesthetics but also the facilities it will provide.

Emily Stapley, Senior Project Manager (Education) Infrastructure Division, Strategic and Corporate Services, Kent County Council

Emily continued, "Senior Site Manager, Lee Tucker and Quantity Surveyor, Matthew Collins have excelled in both delivering the project on site and keeping Kent County Council informed on all commercial matters throughout the life of the project. We look forward to working with Kier on the next project.”

Ensuring that our education facilities provide an engaging learning environment is vital for our next generation to thrive and to attract the very best teaching staff.

Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE said

Mark continued, "Kier has delivered the future proof Ebbsfleet Green Primary for Kent County Council in collaboration with Maritime Academy Trust that will give the community of Ebbsfleet Garden City much needed school places. At SCAPE, we are proud that the project is built with sustainability at its heart and that this will help educate students from a young age about the benefits of energy efficient building whilst significantly reducing the school’s carbon footprint and running costs.”

Over the last decade, Kier has delivered over 1,300 projects through SCAPE Construction, a direct award framework designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings ranging from £50,000 to £4m in value, including Bicester Eco Business Centre, the design and construction of the first UK highly sustainable Passivhaus ‘Plus’ 1,400m2 office building. In Kent specifically they have delivered various modular Scape projects including Springhead Park Primary School, a two-form of entry school in Ebbsfleet, St George’s C of E School a mixed secondary school and sixth form in Gravesend and Trinity School, a co-education secondary school and sixth form in Sevenoaks.

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