Bassaleg Secondary School – Net Zero Carbon Expansion

Overview

The expansion of Bassaleg Secondary School represents a landmark investment in education, creating a Net Zero Carbon (NZC) learning environment while unifying a historically fragmented school campus. As part of Newport City Council’s 21st Century Schools Band B programme, the project was designed to accommodate rising student numbers, ensuring that the school could meet future demand while providing modern, energy-efficient facilities.

The project centred on a new three-storey teaching block, replacing temporary demountable classrooms and outdated buildings with high-quality, purpose-built learning spaces. This facility not only supports the school’s ethos of inclusivity and well-being but also integrates seamlessly with the historic Forge Road grammar school, which remains a focal point for the community.

In addition to the new teaching and dining spaces, the project delivered enhanced recreational facilities, including floodlit 3G sports pitches, playing fields, and improved car parking and access routes, creating a future-proofed education hub for the Bassaleg community.

Project Delivery & Challenges Overcome

The project was delivered on time and within budget, despite global supply chain challenges and the complexities of working within a live school environment. Key strategies that ensured success included:

• Early Stakeholder Engagement: Extensive collaboration with the school leadership and Newport City Council helped shape a design that met educational needs while also supporting the Welsh Government Pathfinder project, which explored new curriculum delivery models.

• Live Site Management & Zero Disruption: Given that construction took place within an operational school, careful logistical planning was essential. Measures such as phased works, controlled delivery schedules, and segregated construction areas ensured that learning was never disrupted.

• Drainage & Infrastructure Improvements: Early site investigations revealed drainage challenges, requiring a bespoke water management system to protect both the new and existing school buildings from flooding risks, reducing long-term maintenance costs.

• Overcoming Supply Chain Delays: Global shortages of materials such as mortar and PV panels threatened programme timelines. However, proactive procurement, early material orders, and supplier collaboration allowed construction to progress smoothly.
These strategic interventions allowed the project to remain on track, ensuring that students and staff could benefit from the new facilities as planned.

State-of-the-Art Sustainable Facilities

The new three-storey teaching block was designed to physically and culturally unify the school, creating a central hub for learning, social interaction, and extracurricular activities.
The development delivered:

• Modern classrooms with energy-efficient design, ensuring a comfortable learning environment while reducing operational carbon.

• Flexible dining and assembly areas, designed to enhance student well-being and support wider community engagement.

• Floodlit 3G sports facilities and playing fields, providing year-round sporting opportunities for students and local clubs.

• Improved site infrastructure, including new car parking, safer access routes, and future-proofed expansion zones.
By aligning the school’s spatial design with curriculum delivery and student well-being, the project creates an inspiring environment where students can thrive.

Sustainability & Net Zero Carbon Commitment
The Bassaleg Secondary School expansion was designed to meet the highest environmental standards, ensuring energy efficiency and long-term carbon reduction.

Key Sustainability Achievements:

• BREEAM Excellent certification, demonstrating best-in-class environmental performance.

• Enhanced building envelope with triple-glazed windows and high-performance insulation, reducing heat loss and operational energy demand.

• 500m² of rooftop solar PV panels, harnessing renewable energy to power the school.

• Low-carbon materials, including hot-rolled steel frames designed for recyclability.

• Advanced mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, integrating heat recovery ventilation and LED lighting to optimise energy efficiency.

• Energy Synergy™ post-occupancy monitoring, ensuring the school continues to operate within Welsh Government’s Net Zero Carbon targets.
With an operational energy consumption of just 39.9Wh/m², the project exceeds TM54 energy benchmarks, demonstrating exceptional energy efficiency and real-world carbon savings.

Community & Social Impact

Beyond delivering a state-of-the-art school, the project generated a lasting positive impact on the local economy and workforce development:

• 76% of project spend remained within 40 miles of the site, supporting local businesses.

• Employment and training initiatives, including opportunities for apprentices and long-term unemployed individuals.

• STEM education workshops and site visits, inspiring the next generation of construction professionals.

• Enhanced community access to sports facilities, ensuring the school remains a hub for health, well-being, and social engagement.
These measures align with Willmott Dixon’s commitment to delivering sustainable, socially responsible projects that benefit both students and the wider community.

Client Feedback

Victoria Lambe, Headteacher of Bassaleg School said:

“We feel incredibly proud to be in receipt of much needed significant investment to our infrastructure to accommodate our growing school population. The planned upgraded facilities will complement the innovative and expansive work being undertaken on our dynamic new curriculum and ensure that our pupils are thriving within a 21st century learning environment.”

Ian Jones, Director at Willmott Dixon said:

“We are delighted to be working with Newport City Council at Bassaleg School where we will bring our significant experience delivering low carbon facilities for the education sector. Working with Newport City Council and Newport Norse, the school’s redevelopment will benefit not just pupils and staff, but the wider community."

“Willmott Dixon has a commitment to engage the communities where it builds. This is reflected in the work we are already undertaking with the school, and also the strong links our team and our supply chain partners have to Bassaleg School and the surrounding community.”