The project.
b&m is acting as CDM Principal Designer on the expansion of Nexus School in Tonbridge, supporting the delivery of much-needed additional SEN provision on behalf of Kent County Council.
Planning permission has been secured for a new teaching block, forming part of a wider strategy to address the growing demand for specialist school places across Kent.
The scheme will provide a new single-storey, detached teaching building located to the north of the existing school. Designed to respond directly to the current shortfall in accommodation, the development includes:
- Five new classrooms
- Learning resource areas
- Staff accommodation
- Supporting ancillary spaces
The design has been developed in line with current Building Bulletin guidance and the Department for Education Output Specification, ensuring a high-quality and efficient environment tailored to specialist educational needs.
Our Role
As CDM Principal Designer, we are working with the design team to ensure that health and safety is considered from the outset and embedded throughout the design process.
Projects within live school environments bring a specific set of challenges. Careful consideration is required around access, safeguarding, and how the new building integrates with the existing campus without disrupting day-to-day operations.
Our role is to support the team in identifying and managing these risks early, helping to shape practical, buildable solutions that work for both construction and long-term use.
The Team
The project brings together a collaborative consultant team, including:
- Architect: Hazle McCormack Young LLP
- Contractor: Kier Group
- Civil & Structural Engineer: Fairhurst
- M&E: FJ&B Engineering Consultants
- Landscape Architect: Lizard Landscape Design and Ecology
- Acoustic Consultant: Sound Advice Acoustics Ltd
- Planning Consultant: LEP | Lee Evans Partnership LLP
- Transport Consultant: LSR Transport
- Building Control: Harwood Building Control
Outcome
The expansion will provide much-needed additional capacity for Nexus School, supporting its vital role in delivering specialist education across the region.
For b&m, it’s about bringing a proactive, collaborative approach to design risk management, helping the team deliver a safe, well-considered environment that meets the needs of both staff and students.
