The Education and Skills Funding Agency has picked offsite specialists Caledonian and a Styles & Wood/Extraspace Solutions joint venture to deliver modular school blocks and extensions.
The teams will deliver 16 pilot primary school projects with further schemes expected up to a value of £95m.
It forms part of the the ESFA’s plan to revolutionise the way education buildings are specified, procured and delivered, as it seeks to find more cost effective delivery in the face of rising construction costs.
The latest framework, known as PSPB 2 Modular B, follows the Modular A framework, which is being used for whole school buildings. This was won by Eliott which secured nine schools and McAvoy, which is preferred bidder on an additional three schools.
Solutions developed for the programme will be rolled out for use on further frameworks covering both primary and secondary school blocks.
Under the ESFA framework deal the firms will act as lead designer and principal contractor for the design and build of new schools, academies, and other educational facilities.
Caledonian and its design partner HLM Architects will deliver innovative design-led solutions that promote the intelligent use of BIM, design for manufacturing and assembly and the use of lean manufacturing techniques to eliminate waste.
This will enable entire school buildings to be manufactured offsite with only minimal works required onsite to install, connect and commission the buildings.
The framework, which falls under the second wave of the Priority School Building Programme, will run for four years.
Paul Lang, chief executive officer of Caledonian, said: “Gaining this place on the framework underpins our strategy to double revenues in the current financial year, where we have already created over 100 new jobs since January, with significant growth anticipated in education, defence, Ministry of Justice and residential sectors.
“This follows on from winning a £50m contract to design and build a 1,500 hotel style living accommodation for key workers on the Hinkley Point C power station development”.
