Devon County Council

Facts and figures

• Ongoing framework started in 2003
• Construction phases varied on individual projects from 4 to 18 months
• Amenities provided include netball courts; sports halls; gyms with modern facilities; drama studios; ICT suites; adventure play grounds; community kitchens; and serveries

The framework, which started in 2003, has delivered a number of quality projects in primary schools and colleges throughout the county of Devon, comprising new build, major refurbishment and extensive improvements.

Extensive landscape and sports pitches, hard play and road access schemes forms part of the projects, as well as extensive demolitions. The majority of the projects have been priced on open book basis using traditional JCT and NEC forms of contract.

Achievements

• Maintaining operational function during building: The refurbishment and new build extensions were carried out in ‘live’ schools with significant phasing and segregation requirements
• Sustainability: During construction, we introduced many new sustainable features, such as passive stack ventilation, solar panel heating, ground source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels
• All projects completed on time and within budget
• Excellent working relationship with Devon County Council

Roger Pope, Principal, Kingsbridge Community College, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the project has been completed on time and to budget and furthermore that it has so magnificently fulfilled the vision we had at the very beginning of the project.”

Richard Price, Chair of Governors, Clyst Heath Primary School, said: “The actual build has been notable by virtue of the fact that it has had a minimal impact on the life of the school. The noisiest and busiest jobs were undertaken during holiday periods thus minimising the inevitable disruptions to school life.”