BAM starts work on two new Passivhaus schools

BAM has started work on a new project to deliver a primary and secondary school in Lyde Green near Bristol.

The new school buildings will be built to Passivhaus standards making them highly energy efficient and net zero carbon.

BAM will construct the new 420-place primary school, alongside a new 900-place 11-16 secondary school. Both schools will be completed and ready to welcome new students to begin learning onsite in September 2026.

Alongside modern new learning facilities, the new school buildings have also been designed to benefit the wider community, with a core area of purpose-built, shared-use sports facilities.

BAM was appointed to deliver the scheme by South Gloucestershire Council, via the Southern Construction Framework (SCF). BAM and South Gloucestershire Council welcomed project partners to the site last week, to celebrate the start of the construction.

Tim Chell, Regional Director, BAM, said: “As we begin construction here in Lyde Green, we’re looking forward to delivering two highly sustainable new schools that will be built to Passivhaus standards. This will make them net zero carbon, efficient to run, and enjoyable places to learn.

“Sustainability will be central to our approach and the work we will undertake here is perfectly aligned to BAM’s commitment to building a sustainable tomorrow.”

In welcoming the news that work is now in progress, South Gloucestershire Council Co-leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for schools, Cllr Ian Boulton, said: “Since we formed the new Administration last year our focus has been to finally deliver these vital schools.

“I am delighted that we are now able to see construction getting underway and that funding has been secured to deliver these brand-new schools for the local community.

“I would like to thank our officers and partners who have been working flat out in order to get to this point with a view to meeting the challenging deadlines we have set for ourselves.”

The office of the South West Regional Schools Director said: “The DfE are pleased to have supported this project and look forward to the opening of these schools to provide the additional places needed in this area.”

The total project funding is more than £58.3 million, which is made up of almost £24 million from South Gloucestershire Council, and more than £34.3 million from the Department of Education under the Free Schools Programme.

The project has experienced delays in recent years, due to the pandemic and very high inflation, leading to a significant rise in the scheme’s estimated cost. However, close collaboration between South Gloucestershire Council, the Department for Education, and the scheme’s project partners is now making this exciting project a reality.

The primary school will be run by the Castle School Education Trust (CSET) and the secondary school will be run by Olympus Academy Trust, both of which already run a number of local schools.