Ashe Construction is pleased to announce the completion of a major refurbishment project at the Water Lane Primary Academy in Harlow, Essex. Starting in July 2018, with a second phase from March to July this year, the scheme involved everything from new lighting and suspended ceilings to floor coverings, decoration and plumbing and heating. An existing courtyard was infilled and utilised to create a new information, communication and technology suite while additional teaching space was created with an extension.

An extra challenge for such a wide-ranging project was the need to work during term time without disrupting the daily life of the school. Ashe’s on-site personnel, headed by site manager Rusty Scott, not only ensured a healthy dialogue with the headteacher through daily briefings, but also held an assembly for the pupils to highlight the health and safety aspects of the construction site.

Charmaine Ward, the headteacher and principal of Water Lane Primary Academy, says: “We have had a really good experience with the Ashe team. The communication has been excellent, and I’d say they ‘bent over backwards’ to accommodate our needs. They were extremely professional, proactive in terms of solutions and recommendations, and demonstrated a great knowledge and understanding of the needs and operational requirements of schools.”

Ashe was not only able to find budget-saving solutions for the project, and finish the first phase four weeks early, but was also able to give the project team a Safety Culture Award, which recognised their safety excellence throughout the 49 weeks of this £2 million contract.