The green light has been given for our second Net Zero Carbon school to be built through the Department for Education’s Offsite (MMC) Framework.

Chilmington Green Secondary School at Ashford, Kent, has been given planning approval and will be constructed using a ‘Fabric Frist Principle’ ensuring the fabric of the building and heating, water, ventilation and lighting systems are designed to be energy efficient.

A school of the future, the building will set high sustainable standards and will achieve BREEAM Excellent – putting it in the top 10% of UK buildings for sustainability.

Bowmer + Kirkland Design Manager, Ben Coady, said, “The B+K team is delighted with this planning decision and is looking forward to getting started on site. The use of materials and technology will create an energy efficient, low acoustic environment that takes advantage of natural light and the adoption of the ’labyrinth’ system which maximises natural ventilation and cooling to large hall spaces during warmer periods.”

Karl Allcoat, Department for Education Project Manager, added: “We are proud to be moving forward with this sustainable investment for the children of the Chilmington area. The school will achieve Net Zero Carbon in operation and will be rated BREEAM excellent. This has been achieved through the innovative and hard work of the project team, resulting in a sustainable and biodiversity led approach to construction.”

Jon Rutland, Principal Designate, Chilmington Green Secondary School said, “The brand new, purpose built Chilmington Green Secondary School will be aspirational, inclusive, and sustainable – an inspirational learning environment for local students to thrive and prepare for their futures. It will be a school which sets high academic standards whilst nurturing and supporting students to be the very best they can be.”

This is our second Net Zero Carbon in operation school procured through the DfE’s Modern Methods of Construction Framework – the first, West Coventry Academy, is currently on site and due to complete in November 2024.