Willmott Dixon’s Passivhaus Primary School Sets a New Standard in Sustainable Construction

Welcome to Net Zero News, your daily briefing on the UK’s transition to a low‑carbon future.

Big news arrives from the built environment: Willmott Dixon has been awarded the contract to deliver a new Passivhaus primary school in Glyn‑coch, South Wales. This cutting‑edge school will not only achieve Passivhaus performance but also operate at net‑zero carbon standards, surpassing current Welsh Government targets for embodied carbon in school construction. The project is backed by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Schools Challenge fund under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, having secured grant funding in spring 2023.

Construction is underway, with completion due in autumn 2026. The design includes a two‑storey replacement for Craig yr Hesg Primary School, enhanced with community hub facilities. On‑site features will include EV charging bays, bike, scooter and buggy storage to promote sustainable travel, alongside nature‑positive measures like rain gardens and nature‑based surface‑water solutions. The development will also pursue accreditations including Passivhaus, Building With Nature, and the WELL Building Standard to support health, wellbeing and biodiversity alongside energy performance. Featuring green technologies and community amenities, the project is set to serve both pupils and wider residents.

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