This pilot retrofit at Hiltingbury Junior School serves as proof of concept that outdated schools can be retrofitted using low-carbon materials (including homegrown timber) to substantially upgrade their performance.

An “industrialised retrofit” approach delivered a high-performance learning environment and a cost-effective renewal for one-third the cost of a rebuild.

An estimated 24,000 UK school buildings are currently operating beyond their original design life. A significant portion of this estate consists of 1960s and 70s “system build” structures, such as the SCOLA (Second Consortium of Local Authorities) steel-framed blocks. These buildings frequently present problems for local authorities and headteachers: significant safety risks from asbestos and RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete), thermal inefficiency that leads to high energy bills, and a “patch and mend” maintenance cycle that causes constant educational disruption.

For Hampshire County Council alone, the challenge encompasses approximately 400 SCOLA buildings requiring urgent modernisation. Ecosystems Technologies worked in collaboration with Hampshire County Council Property Services and Greendale Construction to deliver a pilot retrofit at Hiltingbury Junior School to serve as proof of concept that low-carbon materials could provide a cost-effective solution with minimal disruption to pupils.

I'm interested in:

• Carbon
• homegrown timber