Skanska’s sensitive construction of a new Bristol primary school

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The construction of a new primary school – the Marksbury Road Primary School – in Bedminster, has proved a model example of considerate construction in the community.

Skanska’s brief was to construct the new school as part of the Oasis Academy group situated on the site of a former college, which was demolished ahead of the new works.

The site was situated at the heart of a major south Bristol residential housing area with recognised social issues and was next to an operational Job centre, thus careful consideration of the local community was essential.

Here are some examples of best practice initiatives carried out by Skanska:

  • Neighbours and Development Control were given a minimum of 48 hours notice ahead of any disruptive works taking place, e.g. concrete pours.
  • Bi-monthly update letters were produced and delivered to neighbours in order to keep the community up to date with progress and planned events.
  • A twitter account was established to provide information to all regarding the project.
  • An Open Doors weekend was held, whereby the community was invited to visit the site and see how a construction site operates, this not only attracted interested neighbours but also prospective parents who were making decisions on pupil places.
  • Solar PV (photovoltaic) panels were used on site, supplying 25% of the buildings energy, the energy generated during construction was used to power the site lighting, demonstrating the sites desire to be as sustainable as economically possible.
  • Rainwater was harvested from the new building and site accommodation to irrigate the landscaping and provide water for site WC’s, reducing the main water supply requirements.
  • Reptiles were observed at the rear of the adjacent Homes and Community Agency (HCA) master plan site. The HCA installed a barrier but as they did not have a site presence, the site monitored the condition and reported back to the HCA.
  • As there were three Skanska sites within one mile of each other and in order to reduce emissions, the site purchased a bike and helmet for operatives and staff to use, to cycle to the local amenities as opposed to driving.
  • Waste and energy used on site was recorded and the data was published in the newsletters and twitter feed.
  • The Injury Free Environment, a behavioural change programme, introduced a lot of events that promoted discussion and conversation among the workforce in order to build relationships.
  • The site leased a parcel of land adjacent to the main site to provide parking for the operatives in order to eliminate on-street parking.
  • A safer, more productive working environment was encouraged by the implementation of activities including basketball competitions, football matches and monthly open door sessions with a healthy buffet provided.
  • ‘Meat-free Mondays’ and ‘fruit Fridays’ were held on site. Fresh fruit was provided in the canteen daily to promote healthy eating amongst the workforce.
  • The project employed over 90 per cent of local labour throughout the programme, and for the specialist trades that came from further afield, the site team provided information on local B&B’s and hotels to make the transition to site smoother for the workforce.

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