Bohunt Secondary School, Wokingham

In 2015, a 112-year-old garrison in Arborfield, Wokingham was sold to developers, Crest Nicholson, by the MoD.

The new Arborfield Green development includes thousands of new homes, a supermarket, parks and Bohunt Secondary School for 1,200 pupils.

Interesting facts:

• Arborfield garrison was a veterinary hospital for wounded horses in the First World War.  
• A stream was diverted and a boggy area drained and raised to create an outdoor arena, multi-use games areas, and three grass football pitches.  
• More than 15,000 tonnes of soil and 200,000 litres of rainwater was removed from the site and while 500 tonnes of steel used for the framework.

Environmental considerations within the project included a natural ventilation system and solar photovoltaic panels.

Plans for the new school featured two large courtyards which were to be landscaped to provide external classrooms and areas to eat and socialise.

In keeping with the eco-friendliness of the design, we were contacted by the project managers Dawnus in February 2015 to discuss the permeable resin bound aspect of the project.

In June 2017, we returned and installed 1,461m² of SureSet permeable paving in Barley Beach to pedestrian areas around the new school building.

Despite initial delays due to levels of contaminated soil, the new £32.5m, Bohunt School is ready to welcome new students in September 2017.

Internal facilities include laboratories, STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) workshops, drama and art facilities while outside boasts an outdoor arena, multi-use games areas and three grass football pitches.

The extensive resin bound paving installation to pathways, courtyards and an impressive ‘amphitheatre’ style seating area has completely transformed the outside of the school.

The smooth, accessible surface provides a welcoming entrance to the main building and seamlessly links to other areas of the school.