Latest news with #MorganSindallConstruction
Business News Wales
11-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Monmouthshire Celebrates Official Opening of Flagship All-Through School
Morgan Sindall Construction's King Henry VIII 3-19 School at Old Hereford Rd, NP7 6EP, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales on 16 April 2025. Photo: Adam Davies ©2025 Adam Davies Photography, All Rights Reserved. Monmouthshire County Council has officially opened the new King Henry VIII three-19 School in Abergavenny. The event, attended by Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle, Monmouthshire County Council Leader Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, MCC Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Laura Wright, and a host of dignitaries, staff, and pupils, celebrated the completion of the first operationally net-zero carbon all-through school in Wales. The £70 million project, jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Monmouthshire County Council under the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme and constructed by Morgan Sindall, represents a bold investment in the future of education in the region, the council said. Monmouthshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Laura Wright, said: 'This building is more than bricks and mortar. It's a beacon for a modern education system in Wales, designed to inspire, to nurture, and to empower our young people.' Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle said: 'I was delighted to visit King Henry VIII School for the official opening and witness this remarkable investment that was made possible through our Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. As our first operationally net-zero carbon all-through school, not only will our learners benefit from high quality facilities, but they will also benefit from learning in a sustainable school environment. What has been achieved here is truly inspiring for our learners.' The ceremony featured performances from pupils across all ages, showcasing the school's through school strategy. Guests enjoyed performances from the cast of the school's production of Les Misérables, a dance performance by pupils in Years 1 and 2, as well as performances from the Primary Phase and All-Age Choirs. Adding to the celebration, Monmouthshire County Council was recently named 'Client of the Year' at the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards, held at Celtic Manor. The award recognises the council's exemplary leadership and collaborative approach throughout the King Henry VIII project. Judges praised the council's unwavering focus on quality, sustainability, and community impact, noting that the project sets a benchmark for public sector delivery. As winners of the Welsh award, the council will now represent Wales at the UK-wide Constructing Excellence National Awards later this year. Monmouthshire County Council's Leader, Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, noted: 'It's an honour to be named as 'Client of the Year'. As a council, we wanted to ensure that this project not only delivered a building for the next few years, but one that will shape education within the town and county for generations to come. The award highlights our dedication to achieving this, and we look forward to representing Wales at the UK National awards.' Phase two of the project, which includes the completion of the playing fields and the energy centre, is scheduled for completion by April 2026.
South Wales Argus
10-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Celebrations as new £62.5m school in Abergavenny takes a step closer
Morgan Sindall Construction has successfully completed the main building phase of the project and representatives from the firm, Monmouthshire County Council, and project partners gathered to hand over the new school building to the client. Procured via the SEWSCAP framework, the £62.5 million project delivers a purpose-built, all-through school for Monmouthshire County Council. It will bring together primary, secondary, and sixth form education on a single site and when complete will include 15,000 square metres of teaching space, wellbeing zones, sensory rooms, home economics areas, and dedicated Special Resource Base (SRB) spaces to support pupils with additional learning needs. It will offer a 3G football pitch, a 2G hockey pitch, a cycle training zone and Multi-Use Games Area. Constructed using a steel frame and incorporating GGBS cement to reduce embodied carbon, the school is the council's first designed to be Net Zero Carbon in operation. The project team had a number of challenges to overcome including including managing high groundwater levels and working on a sloping site. A key adaptation was made to the sheet piling design to preserve a 700-year-old oak tree, which is now a central feature of the landscape plan. During the project Morgan Sindall created 60 new jobs for those not in education, employment or training or the long-term unemployed, while supporting 22 new apprentices. The team engaged more than 9,323 pupils through STEM activities and donated more than 1,000 hours to school engagement programmes. Robert Williams, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Wales, said: 'We're incredibly proud to have delivered this transformative project for Monmouthshire County Council and the local community. King Henry VIII 3-19 School represents not only a major investment in education but also in sustainable construction and inclusive design. 'This project is a testament to what can be achieved through early collaboration, intelligent planning, and a shared commitment to creating inspiring learning environments. "I'd like to thank the client team at Monmouth, the consultants and our project team, supply chain, and all our partners for their hard work and dedication in bringing this vision to life. "A fantastic project that has been not only a great delivery success but has also built some wonderful friendships and relationships along the way - a true collaboration with one shared goal."
South Wales Argus
04-06-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Eco-friendly Cwmbran school construction phase completed
Morgan Sindall Construction finished the first part of its new build for Maendy Primary School in Cwmbran on May 27. The new development will replace the old school building, which will be demolished next year. The two-storey structure, which will accommodate 420 pupils over 16 classrooms, will be net zero carbon in operation. The May completion date saw the construction team deliver the main school building, rear playground, multi-use games area, and individual play zones, all of which have now been handed over to the council. The project was started in March 2024 and will be completed in January 2026. The final part of the construction project will see the demolition of the old school building and the creation of a new access road, a car park with electric vehicle charging points, sports fields, and a dedicated Forest School area. The building was designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent certification and has 700 square metres of solar PV panels on its southern roof pitch, contributing to its net zero carbon in operation status. The project has taken on Morgan Sindall Construction's '10 Tonne Carbon Challenge' and has already achieved a saving of 10.3 tonnes of CO₂e. Notable initiatives include using reusable Kentledge blocks instead of traditional concrete foundations for site hoarding – a solution that allows for movement between phases without requiring new foundations. The project has also involved the local community, with Morgan Sindall engaging pupils through educational activities, such as assemblies, construction site safety sessions, and Carbon Literacy and sustainable design workshops for Years 5 and 6. The company is further supporting the school through its sponsorship of the Healthy Dragons initiative, delivered in partnership with the Dragons RFC Community Team. The programme promotes wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, and confidence-building among pupils. The team has also donated materials for the creation of hedgehog houses, now in place within the school's Forest School area, enhancing opportunities for environmental learning and wildlife conservation. An internal drop-off area is also being developed to alleviate existing roadside congestion during peak times. Robert Williams, area director for Morgan Sindall in Wales, said: "We're making excellent progress on the new Maendy Primary School, which will provide a high-quality, sustainable learning environment for children in Cwmbran. "The successful handover of Phase 1, the main school building, marks a significant milestone in our journey to deliver net zero carbon buildings that promote both educational achievement and environmental responsibility. "Our engagement with pupils throughout the build has been particularly rewarding. "Initiatives like the Carbon Literacy workshops not only enrich the curriculum but help inspire the next generation to consider careers in construction and understand the importance of sustainable practices."
Business News Wales
04-06-2025
- Business News Wales
Cwmbran Net Zero School Development Hits Phase 1 Milestone
Morgan Sindall Construction's team has successfully completed Phase 1 of the new Maendy Primary School in Cwmbran, officially handing over the state-of-the-art facility to Torfaen County Borough Council. Started in March 2024, the project involves the development of a new two-storey, net zero carbon in operation primary school, designed to accommodate 420 pupils across 16 classrooms. The 2,184 sq-m facility will replace the existing school and provide a modern, sustainable learning environment. Phase 1 has delivered the main school building, a rear playground, a multi-use games area (MUGA), and individual play zones adjacent to classrooms. Phase 2, on track for completion in January 2026, will see the demolition of the old school building, followed by the creation of additional facilities. These will include a new access road, a car park with electric vehicle charging points, extensive sports fields, and a dedicated Forest School area. Designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent certification, the school boasts a robust all-brick clad steel structure and incorporates 700 sq-m of solar PV panels on its southern roof pitch, contributing significantly to its net zero carbon in operation status. The building has also been strategically oriented to optimise energy efficiency while maintaining practical and inspiring spaces for teaching and learning. In alignment with Morgan Sindall Construction's Responsible Business strategy, the project has adopted the company's 10 Tonne Carbon Challenge, aimed at driving down carbon emissions through collaboration and innovation. Working closely with consultants and supply chain partners, the team has already exceeded its target, achieving a saving of 10.3 tonnes of CO₂e. Notable initiatives include the use of reusable Kentledge blocks in place of traditional concrete foundations for site hoarding – a solution that allows for movement between phases without the need for new foundations. Morgan Sindall has engaged pupils through a series of educational activities, including assemblies, construction site safety sessions, and Carbon Literacy and sustainable design workshops for Years 5 and 6. The company is further supporting the school through its sponsorship of the Healthy Dragons initiative, delivered in partnership with the Dragons RFC Community Team. The programme promotes wellbeing, healthy lifestyles, and confidence-building among pupils. As part of its biodiversity efforts, the team has donated materials for the creation of hedgehog houses, now in place within the school's Forest School area, enhancing opportunities for environmental learning and wildlife conservation. To address local infrastructure challenges, the project also includes the development of an internal drop-off area, designed to alleviate existing roadside congestion during peak times. Robert Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall in Wales, said: 'We're making excellent progress on the new Maendy Primary School, which will provide a high-quality, sustainable learning environment for children in Cwmbran. 'The successful handover of Phase 1, the main school building, marks a significant milestone in our journey to deliver net zero carbon buildings that promote both educational achievement and environmental responsibility. 'Our engagement with pupils throughout the build has been particularly rewarding. Initiatives like the Carbon Literacy workshops not only enrich the curriculum but help inspire the next generation to consider careers in construction and understand the importance of sustainable practices.'
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Abandoned UK stadium that hosted FA Cup 110 years ago to undergo £130million regeneration after it was left to rot
THE CRYSTAL PALACE National Sports Centre – the site of 21 FA Cup finals – is undergoing a £130million refurb and could host top-class athletics by the end of the decade. The iconic sports venue in South London , which includes an abandoned Olympic-standard swimming pool , has fallen into a state of disrepair over the past decade. 4 The Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is set to undergo a major refurb Credit: FAULKNER DOWNES 4 A whopping £130million will be sunk into the venue, which has become aged Credit: FAULKNER DOWNES 4 The revamp could lead to the venue hosting top athletics by the end of the decade Credit: FAULKNER DOWNES The area had been left to rot, with PIGEON POO all over the indoor track, leaks in the roof and floodlights that were closed off on safety grounds. There had also been sightings of foxes and rats darting in-between the rusty old stands. Yet since the summer of 2023, work has begun to restore the arena back to its former glories, starting with long-overdue track repairs. And now 'new concept images' have been released by the Mayor of London that show the potential transformation of the outdoor athletics arena and the swimming facilities inside the Grade-II listed building – with a completion date of 2028. READ MORE SPORTS NEWS The hope is that future Diamond League meetings could be held there in front of a capacity crowd of 35,000. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged millions to improve the sporting facilities at the Sports Centre that opened in 1964 and is just two miles from Selhurst Park, home of FA Cup winners And building firm Morgan Sindall Construction have been appointed to deliver the Centre's improved design and build. A pre-construction period has started, which includes detailed applications for planning and listed building consent, with major works planned to commence in the second half of 2026. Most read in Sport JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 4 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has pledged millions of pounds to revamp the venue Credit: PA The redevelopment will include a complete rebuild of the structure of the swimming and diving pools and 'improved sporting facilities'. The location holds a special place in British sporting history – with 20 men's FA Cup finals, excluding replays, held on the same site between 1895 and 1914. How Crystal Palace outsmarted Man City in FA Cup final It was also the historic venue for the first Women's FA Cup final in 1971, which was won by Southampton Ladies. It also hosted some of the greatest international athletics events in the UK – race in front of 15,000 people at the London Grand Prix just weeks before the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. And Steve Ovett, Seb Coe and Steve Cram are among the other track-and-field icons who have raced there. Khan said: 'Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is an historic and much-loved sporting and community facility where many UK sporting stars have started their careers and trained but which needs major investment and refurbishment. 'I'm committed to this once-in-a-generation redevelopment of the site which will secure its future for decades to come. 'With short-term improvements already delivered and Morgan Sindall Construction now appointed to deliver the design and build of the centre. "We look forward to working closely with partners and the local community to create an outstanding sporting venue as we work together to build a better, healthy London for all.'
