Bishop Wand School

Consulting | Design

Bishop Wand School

Client: Surrey County Council

Project overview
In response to a forecasted need for additional secondary school places in Spelthorne Borough, Surrey County Council appointed Norse Group to provide multi-disciplinary services for a 1FE expansion at Bishop Wand Church of England School.

The planning application process took around 12 months to complete and resulted in multiple conditions, including highway works.

Situated in high-traffic residential area with numerous nearby schools, the site required extensive consultation with residents to address the increased pressure the expansion would place on local roads.

Norse Group collaborated closely with SCC and their transport consultant to promptly address the planner’s queries and assisted in procuring temporary classrooms when it became clear that delays would impact key delivery deadlines.

The works took place at the centre of the school campus, next to the main field, and were carried out during term time over several years. To minimise disruption for students, Norse Group facilitated the installation of an airlock, allowing students access to essential areas.
The design included a SUDS system, removal of gas with heat pumps, LED lighting and smart controls.

Challenges
Bishop Wand was originally commissioned as a single project, but due to significant delays caused by planning constraints and the financial difficulties of the original contractor—who ultimately abandoned the site—the project evolved into a multi-phased endeavour.

This abandonment led to a breach of contract and required the termination of the original agreement, necessitating the appointment of a new contractor to complete the work.

Steps taken to overcome challenges:
• Original build contract: Norse Group maintained an open dialogue with the original main contractor when it became evident they were in financial difficulty and worked with SCC’s Legal advisors to administer termination of the contract at the appropriate time.

• Temporary classrooms: Norse Group provided additional services to facilitate the swift hiring and refurbishment of temporary classrooms when delays were encountered.
• Highways works: Norse Group advised splitting highways works into two separate contracts when it became apparent there would be planning delays on one element.
• Emergency works: Urgent measures were needed to secure the site following the contractor’s abandonment of the project.
• Emergency procurement: Procurement of new contractor to finish the remaining work.

Securing the site and re-procuring the work took considerable time, during which efforts were made to manage disruptions and uncertainties with the school.

Despite these challenges, planning permission was eventually obtained, and a new contractor was successfully procured to advance the project.

Budget
Before the original contractor abandoned the site, the project was comfortably within budget. Norse Group had identified early signs of financial trouble with the contractor and escalated the issue as necessary.

This proactive approach ensured that legal advice was sought, allowing for the contract termination to proceed with minimal impact on the project timeline.

Norse Group then collaborated closely with SCC to determine the most suitable procurement route and build methodology.

Client relationships
Norse Group has cultivated a strong and enduring relationship with the client and their representatives, which proved invaluable in navigating the challenges of this project.