Delivered in partnership between Wiltshire Council and Willmott Dixon, this landmark project in Rowde is one of the largest and most sustainable SEND schools in the country. - Completed in 2024, it exemplifies how construction projects can be delivered with reduced environmental impact and carbon footprint.
The building adopts a ‘school within a school’ model, bringing together three local schools into one location. Each wing of the school provides specialist support to pupils, including moderate to profound learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, and physical disabilities. The teaching spaces are designed to maximize natural daylight, creating calm, sensory-sensitive environments that support focus and well-being while reducing energy consumption.
Carbon reduction by design
Built to be net-zero in operation, Silverwood also represents the future of sustainable education estates.
The school reaches net zero carbon through a combination of renewable energy and low-carbon systems and materials.
Over 1,000 solar panels generate more than 400 MWh annually—enough to power the entire facility, with surplus energy exported to the local grid.
Three biomass boilers provide sustainable heating.
In a pioneering community energy initiative, the solar panels are owned and operated by Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy, generating approximately £5,000 annually to support environmental education at the school.
Material choices were also at the heart of Silverwood’s highly sustainable build with embodied carbon reduced through use of a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) frame.
As a result of the precise construction methods and materials, the building achieves an airtightness score of 1.843/hr/m2 - that’s highly energy efficient compared to the average modern building, which is around 53/hr/m2. T
he school also achieves an EPC score of –13. The negative number indicates that the building generates more energy than it consumes annually.
Nature-positive construction
Sustainability by design drove every element of the project plan. Silverwood achieved remarkable results in construction waste management: 98.8% of all construction waste was diverted from landfill. This positive environmental outcome was achieved through a comprehensive Material Management Plan.
The project diverted 25,000 m³ of excavated material for complete on-site reuse, while 1,096 pallets were collected by Pallet Loop for reuse instead of disposal. Community Wood Recycling Social Enterprise collected 256 tonnes of timber from the site, and 10 pallets of spare bricks were donated to St Edmunds Society for apprentice training.
Silverwood students also gained valuable learning opportunities by constructing bird boxes made with reused waste timber from the construction site.
All hard and soft plastics were segregated and recycled. Insulation offcuts were collected and sent offsite for reuse.
By reusing 100% of excavated material on-site rather than disposing to landfill, the project saved an estimated £715,000 in avoided disposal costs. This calculation factors in landfill gate fees, landfill tax, and haulage costs minus onsite management expenses, demonstrating that sustainable construction makes both environmental and economic sense.
Biodiversity net gain
Tree and hedge planting by Willmott Dixon people and Silverwood students, added around 200% more hedgerow to the school site. Numerous Tree Preservation Orders were out in in place across the site, with all protected trees monitored throughout the project with regular arboriculturist visits.
Alongside wildflower seeding in new landscaped areas, this created an overall 14% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) on the site.
The discovery of one of the UK's rarest bat species on site - Bechstein bats - became an opportunity to showcase how construction can enhance biodiversity. Working with ecological specialists, the team implemented a comprehensive protection strategy that carefully relocated bat roosts from felled trees to nearby woodlands, created a dedicated bat corridor linking the school to woodland areas, installed eight bat boxes on the new building façade, and developed specialised lighting controls to prevent disturbance during construction.
The team also established Environmental Buffer Zones around badger setts and implemented comprehensive amphibian and reptile protection measures during site clearance.
Kingsley Clarke, Southern Construction Framework operations lead, said:
“This is a great example of how the education sector is being progressive in its approach to sustainability – where operational net zero is fast becoming the norm in construction projects. Early engagement and collaboration between the school, Wiltshire Council and Willmott Dixon resulted in plans for a building which is fit for the future and will create a first-class environment for the children of Silverwood School.”
