Deyes High School
Year: 2011
Duration: 28 weeks
Value: £1,000,000
Project Introduction
The project was executed in two phases. The first phase was enabling works with a value of £50,000.
The enabling works involved the demolition of the existing school swimming pool which was attached to the school hall building. This specifically involved removal of the hall wall, breaking into the school hall gable end and temporarily partitioning the gap for weather protection.
All mechanical and electrical installations and services were made safe and the gable end rebuilt tying into the wall and roof. The walls were subsequently rebuilt and the pool void filled with the recycled hardcore materials from the demolition works.
The second phase was to build a new ‘World at Work’ school block and computer suite with a value of £1,000,000.
Sustainable Development
Lyjon has been working with Sefton council and Capita Symonds for some time and has worked with them to develop more for less construction by thinking through the project at all details making sure best value is achieved.
This approach has allowed Lyjon to win tenders in a competitive market where all contractors are trying to win work.
During construction Lyjon implemented a Sustainability Plan, which strived to ensure that the project contributed positively in terms of social, economic and environmental issues.
The construction phase promoted local economic benefit through direct employment, skill generation, and the use of regional materials and through indirect economic impacts.
Social Responsibility
The Contracts Manager expressed concern at the pre-contract stage with regard to noise and the potential for disruption to neighbouring residents. To this end, communication was undertaken to advice of the forthcoming works programme and the likely disruption which may be encountered.
The location of the building site was adjacent to the school playground which was to still be used by the school children. As a means to properly segregate the works and prevent any trespass, hoardings were constructed around the perimeter of the site and access routes diverted away. The Site Manager additionally erected safety warning signage detailing the dangers and restrictions of the building site.
Occupational Health and Safety
The use of scaffolding was essential to carry out the gable and roof works and weather protection although posed a concern with regard to safety and any potential trespass situation. To this end, the Site Manager enforced a strict policy for the removal of all ladders or other materials when not in use, which could be used to access the towers.
A Traffic Management Plan was created to control the flow of deliveries and construction-related vehicles onto and around the school grounds and local residential roads. Essentially, all such traffic was diverted away from morning and afternoon school-runs, school break-times and lunch time periods. Any deliveries and waste removal vehicles were supervised by the Site Manager at all times and details of such forthcoming traffic liaised with the school.
The school staff were provided with the Site Manager’s mobile phone number for contact at any time with regard to queries, concerns or emergencies in this or any other respect.
The noisy and disruptive nature of the demolition works proved problematic as the client had programmed commencement in June. During this period, a number of the schoolchildren were either revising for or actually sitting key exams. The Contracts Manager and Site Manager duly met with the Head teacher to discuss this problem and identify a way around the situation where disruption could be minimised. However, because the nature of the works were demolition, it was impossible for the team to guarantee a ‘quiet time’ over the course of the day. It was therefore agreed that the best way forward would be to actually cease the works and allow a complete period of non-disruption so that the exams could all run smoothly with no disturbance from the construction works.
The Contracts Manager subsequently revisited the programme of works and put back the scheme to recommence a few weeks later in July, when all exams would have been completed and the school would be closing for the summer vacation period. This was liaised and agreed with the Head teacher, client Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council and any affected sub-contractors.
Once the works had been stopped, the Site Manager secured the site and removed all materials and equipment as a safety and security precaution. The site itself was left in a safe and protected state ready for recommencement at a later period.
When the team returned to site in July after the school had been closed, they were able to carry out the works much more efficiently and consistently and actually make up a degree of the lost time.
Access to the school was additionally made easier post-school closure as the absence of vehicles from school staff and parents on the school run and people traffic, meant the site team could mobilise much more easily and without restriction. The team were also able to receive deliveries and remove waste more freely, albeit during the off-peak daytime period as opposed to morning and afternoon rush hour times.
Economic Responsibility
Approximately 12 workers were on the site during the height of construction. Lyjon encourage trade contractors to use the local recruitment organisations first, to contribute toward reducing local unemployment and creating a more skilled workforce within the area. Air permeability was introduced. All materials were manufactured within the UK. Regional materials were preferred in order to support local economies and minimise the environmental impacts due to transportation.
Environmental Responsibility
Waste management plan Smart waste plan Sent waste to transfer depot that then redistribute the materials. All waste removed from the site was sorted and either recycled back into the scheme, taken to another scheme or taken to the local waste transfer depot.
