A turf cut ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction on the new £2.9 million primary school in Loddiswell, Devon.

Hamson Barron Smith is providing M&E and structural and civil engineering services for the scheme.

The new four-class school will be built on land next to a housing development which was gifted to the community as part of the original planning permission. Work is set to be completed by March 2018 and for the first time the school will have all its facilities on one site, including a playing field and multi-use games area (MUGA), vegetable patch and forest school complete with covered pergola.

The new facility has been commissioned and funded by Devon County Council.

With the village of Loddiswell being off the gas, the M&E Engineers adopted an air source heat pump approach to the heating. To complement this, the project also includes photovoltaic (PV) panels. Together with the provision of air source heat pumps and fabric first approach, it is anticipated that the school will be theoretically zero carbon in use.

The low energy approach also included wind catchers in the natural ventilation strategy. This was developed through the Building Physics strategy that had to balance the requirements for natural ventilation, solar shading and daylighting all of which informed the façade design and creates an excellent teaching environment.

An open swale has been incorporated as part of the SUDs scheme which will be planted with wetland loving wild flowers to assist in the absorption of the water, increase biodiversity and add interest to the site for the staff and pupils.

James Laughlin, Associate Director – M&E at Hamson Barron Smith, said: “It was great to be invited to the turf cutting at the long awaited New Primary School for Loddiswell.

It was brilliant to see the children involved and the school using this as an opportunity for the children to learn and have new experiences. We are excited to see our 3D Building Services BIM design coming to life during the construction period.”