en.Wedoany.com Reported - Morgan Sindall Construction's Wales business unit has announced the completion of the main works for the Special Educational Needs (SEN) facility at Portfield School in Haverfordwest, a £25 million project designed to achieve operational carbon neutrality.
To mark this milestone, the Morgan Sindall project team, alongside representatives from Pembrokeshire County Council, delivered speeches and conducted a site tour. The project was procured through the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework and delivered in partnership with engineering consultancy AtkinsRéalis. The first phase focused on the refurbishment and extension of existing buildings. This single-storey school is specifically designed to provide professional educational spaces for students with additional needs, including therapy rooms, sensory rooms, physiotherapy rooms, and a main hall equipped with a retractable trampoline. Outdoors, a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) has been created for student use within a compact campus-style design.
The building structure features a steel frame with brickwork and Vieo cladding for enhanced durability. The project team converted a former unused bus layby into a dedicated car park with over 100 spaces, including 10 accessible parking bays. In terms of sustainability, the school achieves net-zero operational carbon emissions through the integration of solar panels, air source heat pumps, specific wall constructions, high-performance fabric insulation, and low-energy lighting.
Morgan Sindall also implemented the "10 Tonne Carbon Challenge," requiring the project team to collaborate with consultants and the supply chain to reduce carbon emissions by at least 10 tonnes during construction. To date, this initiative has saved 11.2 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), exceeding the initial target. To manage and verify emissions data throughout the lifecycle, the company deployed its proprietary carbon calculation and assessment tool, CarboniCa.
The project has generated significant social value locally: 95% of the supply chain budget was spent locally, and 86% of subcontractors were hired from the local area. To support the next generation of construction talent, the site team employed two graduates and hosted two students from Pembrokeshire College for a five-week internship. Morgan Sindall also collaborated with Cyfle College to organize interactive site visits for local students, showcasing career prospects in the industry.
The second phase is scheduled for completion in early 2027. This phase will involve demolishing old buildings, constructing a new temporary care home, and undertaking a comprehensive refurbishment of the Sixth Form SEN teaching block. The project's progress was facilitated by Pembrokeshire County Council's acquisition of the adjacent plot to Portfield School, which became vacant following the previous school's relocation. This development marks the third major collaboration between Morgan Sindall and Pembrokeshire County Council, following the successful delivery of Haverfordwest High VC School and Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro.
Robert Williams, Regional Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Wales, stated that handing over the new SEN facility at Portfield School was a great honor, and this milestone reflects the close collaboration between the team and Pembrokeshire County Council. The new facility will provide a high-quality learning environment for students and staff, creating a lasting impact. Cllr Jon Harvey, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, noted that the completion of the first phase is highly significant for the school and the community. Headteacher Sarah Hartley added that the new facility represents a major step forward in ensuring every student receives an inclusive, supportive, and inspiring learning environment, expressing pride in the smooth transition for students and the dedication of the staff team.
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