West Dunbartonshire Schools
The background
In 2007 West Dunbartonshire Council launched an initiative called ‘Building Schools for the Future’. The focus of the initiative was to deliver sustainable, flexible school buildings and facilities that enhance the learning experience of students.
West Dunbartonshire schools PPP project was part of the initiative. The project involved the construction of three secondary schools and the replacement of one primary school, incorporating an Early Education and Childcare Centre, Community Learning Centres (CLCs), a communications base for pupils on the autistic spectrum, and extensive sporting and community facilities.
The local Authority, West Dunbartonshire Council, awarded Invesis the PFI contract to deliver the schools in 2008. Through a design, build, finance and maintain mechanism, Invesis successfully delivered the schools that are now an integral part of the communities they serve.
Client
West Dunbartonshire Council
Capital Value
€124m
Sponsor/Investor
Invesis
Consortium
West Dunbartonshire Schools Ltd
Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)
BAM Construction
Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
BAM FM
Business value
Providing flexible learning environments, that are responsive to changes in demand for school places was a priority for the client. Each of the schools have a future proof, bespoke design in response to the local communities’ educational needs, site characteristics and stakeholder requirements.
Minimising disruption to students learning was key as construction took place within a ‘live’ environment. Invesis alongside our partners, worked with the client to assess student’s curriculum and timescales, to establish an optimum programme for construction and school handovers.
By partnering with Invesis, the schools have been operational since 2010 and will be maintained to a high standard that meets the terms of the PPP contract. The inspirational school facilities will help shape the learning experience of students for future generations.
Key features
By using a PFI model and partnering with Invesis, the project…
- was received well due to Invesis’ community engagement plan that was developed to consult with and include all the potential users throughout the design and construction process
- was designed to achieve the highest Building Research Establishment sustainability rating of ‘BREEAM’ Excellent’
- placed in the 2022 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), a globally recognised benchmark for assessing the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance of infrastructure assets worldwide
