Winterstoke Academy, Weston-super-Mare

  • Winterstoke Academy 1
  • Winterstoke Academy 2
  • Winterstoke Academy 3
  • Winterstoke Academy 4
  • Winterstoke Academy 5
  • Winterstoke Academy 6
  • Winterstoke Academy 7
  • Winterstoke Academy 8
  • Winterstoke Academy 9

Project Details

Project: Winterstoke Academy, Weston-super-Mare
Main Contractor: Kier Construction Ltd

The Winterstoke Hundred Academy is a new school which was established in 2020 in the premises of a 2016 building. Due to the rapidly growing Winterstoke Village housing development, North Somerset Council commissioned an expansion to the school which would deliver places for 900 more pupils.

Kier were awarded the £30 million expansion project, which included a new three-story, 80,000 square meter facility which would house the 900 students.

Once the contract had been confirmed, tenders were sent out by Kier for the SFS (steel framing system) and the internal works (partitions and ceilings).
DMH Interiors Limited were one of a few who were invited to tender, and we were pleased to be successful in securing the £3.5m project.

Having worked with Kier previously, they were confident that we had both the breadth of experience and skilled staff to undertake this project successfully knowing that we have worked in the majority of market sectors, these include, commercial developments, student accommodation, MOD, retail and leisure, educational establishments and health care.

We commenced works on 6th June 2022 as per the instruction from the client and drawings, supplied. The client opted to use a Siniat specification, which DMH had used on numerous projects, so were very familiar with.

One of the challenges faced by DMH was that the steel framing had to have protection around all the steels before the SFS could be installed, (Promat was used for protection), and we had to work off scaffolds and MEWP’s. Despite this challenge DMH completed the SFS well before the timeframe for completion of this stage, as well as the 1st fix of partitions. Kier were delighted with the progress made and that we were ahead of the programme set out and agreed.

Unfortunately, Kier encountered an issue with water tightness on the roof which held up internal works for approximately 3 months until Kier found a solution to stop the ingress of water, (this issue had nothing to do with DMH’s work). Once the roof was considered water- tight, DMH were able to complete the internal works.

Social value sits at the heart of DMH Interiors and as the project is central to the wellbeing and development of the community, our team not only wanted to deliver a long-lasting positive legacy through our works on the new school but also via the creation of employment and development opportunities for the people of Weston Super Mare.

It gives us great pride that we have been an integral part of creating a lasting and sustainable legacy for the young people that will be attending the school.

As a Company, we are also passionate about the environment and this particular project is described as a zero- carbon building within the wider development. We also try to help minimise our carbon footprint and waste, by working with our suppliers to ensure that carbon emissions are kept to a minimum by minimising deliveries (bulk buying and storing) plus using local suppliers.

Whenever possible we prefer to use local labour on our projects, again minimising our carbon footprint as well as helping reduce unemployment in the area which contributes to the local tax base and support public services.

DMH have been commended throughout the project by Kier for the high standards of works carried out. They were also impressed with the method of works, the policies and continued Health and Safety toolbox talks carried out, which resulted in no incidents or accidents on site.

On completion, we were once again commended by Kier for the high standards of works and the professionalism of all our team from the Project/Site Managers to the labourer.

In conclusion, DMH are proud to have worked on Kiers £30m project which is North Somerset’s first Net Zero Carbon in Operation (NZCiO) school, which had been carefully designed to meet rigorous environmental standards making it the first NZCiO school in the region. Since this project we have tendered and won further projects from Kier Construction Limited.