A 1940s school made fully compliant in a single summer

The challenge

Beaupre Community Primary School in Outwell had been identified by Cambridgeshire County Council as requiring urgent condition and compliance improvements.

The 1940s-built school presented a range of issues, including a non-compliant electrical installation, fire doors beyond their serviceable life, failing windows and doors, deteriorating flat roofs, damaged external walls and worn playground and car park surfaces.

The challenge was compounded by an initial budget of £300,000 that did not reflect the true scale of the works required. At the same time, the school needed to remain operational throughout the programme, meaning major works had to be carefully planned around school holidays and term-time operations.

The solution

As a framework partner to Cambridgeshire County Council, Bellrock assembled a multidisciplinary team covering Building Surveying, Cost Management, Contract Administration, Civil and Electrical Engineering, Project Management and Principal Designer duties under both CDM and the Building Regulations.

Our feasibility study established that the true programme cost was approximately £875,000 plus VAT, providing the Council with the evidence needed to secure an appropriate budget and deliver the full scope rather than implement temporary fixes.

The programme was delivered under a JCT ICD 2016 contract, with works carefully phased to minimise disruption. Early works were completed during the May half-term, with the main programme delivered throughout the summer holidays. Remaining works were undertaken during term time behind fully segregated work areas to maintain pupil and staff safety.

The outcome

• £835,000 programme delivered on budget
• Main works completed within a single summer holiday period
• 100% electrical and fire safety compliance achieved
• One integrated Bellrock team delivering six specialist disciplines
• New compliant electrical installation and certified fire doors
• Thermally efficient roofs, compliant windows and doors, repaired external walls and resurfaced external areas
• A sustainable estate solution for the Council, replacing reactive maintenance with long-term asset planning

Client Quote

"Bellrock told us early what the works would really cost, then delivered exactly that, with the school open throughout."

Cambridgeshire County Council

Bellrock Insight

"Schools rarely fail all at once; they fail element by element until the risk is unmanageable. Beaupre shows what happens when a council confronts the real numbers early: one summer of disruption instead of a decade of patching."

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