Project: Oakfield Primary School, Dartford, Kent

Value: £5,326,000

Client: Kent County Council

Role: Full pre- and post-contract service

Sector: Education

Contract: NEC 3 -Target Cost

Timber Framed construction single storey replacement of the existing detached infant school which will be demolished and rebuilt at a revised location to link with the existing Junior School. Accommodation will meet the needs of a 2 Form Entry primary school with a 2 FE nursery.

The mix of new build and refurbishment will include facilities for children with Special Educational Needs, 2 reception classes, 12 No. infants/junior classes, IT suite, nurture classrooms, hall, library, kitchen, administration areas and toilets. 

Construction comprises trench fill foundations, reinforced suspended concrete floorslab, partial steel frame, load-bearing timber framed diaphragm walls and partitions, monopitch and flat roofs on timber rafters and glulam beams, aluminium external doors and windows together with floor wall and ceiling finishes, mechanical and electrical installations and internal and underground drainage. Associated works include drop-off road, parking,  landscaping and service connections.

The new premises are constructed on the site of and adjacent to the existing occupied school which is comprised of separate Junior and Infant school buildings. The latter is to be demolished after completion of the scheme.

The approximate gross internal floor area for both new build and refurbishment is 2,557 m2. (This excludes the kitchens, which have no work to be done).

The Woodley Coles LLP was appointed to provide full pre- and post contract service including initial budget estimates, preparation of tender documentation, evaluation of tenders and post contract cost control through to agreement of the final account. 

This scheme is potentially difficult as it involves working on an occupied school site and, consequently, comprises complex phasing requirements. A lightweight timber famed solution has been chosen to reduce on site construction time and minimise disruption to the schoolchildren during the building works.

The scheme is a Pathfinder Project under the DCSF Primary Capital Programme and alternative procurement methods are being used to enable a speedy commencement and early involvement of the successful tenderer.  The scheme is targeted to achieve a Very Good BREEAM rating.