Pupils at Heltwate SEN School in Peterborough are now in occupation of a brand-new specialist school building designed and project managed by Hamson Barron Smith. The school building provides 5no. new classrooms with Accessible Hygiene Rooms, Hall, Kitchen, Food Technology, Sensory Rooms and Offices.

The facilities provide much needed additional space and specialist facilities to suit the evolving needs of pupils at the school and provide space for approximately 40no. pupils. Much needed additional parking facilities have also been created helping to alleviate parking pressures in the local area.

The project is key in regenerating the site of the former Silver Jubilee Pub which was derelict for a number of years following a fire and subsequent anti-social behaviour. Hamson Barron Smith were employed by Peterborough City Council from inception to completion of the project and have delivered Architectural, Landscape, Structural Engineering, M&E Design, Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying and Employer’s Agent services for the project from RIBA Stages 0 to 6.

Construction works were undertaken by main contractor R G Carter (Cambridge) Ltd with site works commencing in February 2022 and the project completing in June 2023. The works were successfully delivered despite challenges faced from COVID-19, material shortages and rapidly increasing costs during the course of the project. The school were able to setup the school over the summer period ready for occupation by pupils from September 2023.