29th Sep 2005 – Foremans Awarded ?700,000 Contract to Relocate Primary School

Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council has awarded a £700,000 contract to the Hire Division of Foremans Relocatable Building Systems, the UK’s primary supplier of pre-owned modular buildings, to relocate a complete primary school to Altrincham.

The school will be refurbished and extended at Foremans’ production centre at Brandesburton near Hull and transported by road where it will be craned into position as 48 steel-framed modules, with flooring, heating, lighting, toilets, partitions and even notice boards already installed.

The contract, which will be completed in just three months, will provide more than 300 children from Navigation Primary School with a purpose-designed temporary school for the start of the academic year in September, whilst a new permanent building is constructed on the site of their existing school.

The school was previously hired from Foremans by Cheshire County Council for Underwood West Nursery and Infant School in Crewe after their original building was destroyed by fire.

Commenting on the project, John Ramsbottom, Project Manager at Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, said, "Having visited a number of temporary schools in use, it was clear that this building best met our requirements for both quality and budget. We liked the feel of the school and the fact that all the facilities were located in one building, with a good use of space. The school also lent itself to the site, which enabled us to keep the existing football pitches in use for the duration of the construction project in accordance with the requirements of Sport England."

He added, "Most importantly, the modular approach means that there will be no disruption to the children’s education while their new permanent building is constructed."  

David Johnson, Managing Director of Foremans, said, "Our approach offers all the advantages of off-site construction – speed, quality and less disruption to staff and pupils – with the additional benefits of exceptional value for money, because the modules we supply are pre-owned."

"The recycling of modular buildings is one of the most environmentally friendly methods of construction but with no compromise on the quality of teaching accommodation. The use of the hire services gives the local authority complete flexibility. Fully fitted and purpose-designed temporary school buildings can be provided, as well as individual classrooms."

Foremans will modify the building by expanding the dining facilities and increasing the number of classrooms, as well as construct playgrounds, car parking and all ancillary services. The school will have a total of 11 classrooms, a nursery, assembly and dining hall, shower, toilets for different age groups, reception area, offices and an IT suite.

Steel-framed modular buildings can be refurbished and relocated in single and multi-storey configurations for a wide range of uses, including classrooms, offices, science laboratories, seminar rooms and dining facilities.

Research has shown that refurbished steel-framed modular buildings consume less than 10 per cent of the carbon dioxide required to manufacture new modules.

Local authorities and schools can hire, purchase or lease their accommodation for unrivalled flexibility and to help meet changing local needs. A ‘buy back’ option is also available for modules bought from Foremans, giving customers the opportunity to meet immediate requirements with the certainty that they have a disposal strategy in place for when the building is no longer required.

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