Project Description

Modular Nursery Building Replacement, Huddersfield

When Broad Oak Children’s Nursery fell into disrepair, they turned to MPH to help relaunch into the future with a new purpose-designed modular nursery building replacement in Huddersfield

Threatened with closure and beset with funding difficulties Broad Oak Children’s Nursery turned to us for a replacement modular nursery building. As the existing building fell into a desperate state of decay, the committee applied for routes of funding as they commenced the search to rebuild the troubled privately run nursery.

A telephone call to MPH and a successful grant application to Kirklees Council set the ball rolling for the demolition of the existing nursery and the arrival of a bespoke purpose-designed modular building replacement nursery.

As a condition of the secured funding, JYM Partnership was appointed as the project manager to ensure the grant was expended correctly and that all conditions were adhered to. Drawing on their many years of expertise and experience, MPH met first-hand with governors at the nursery, often outside of normal working hours, to ensure a carefully planned layout was determined.

After a lengthy consultation period in considering many options for the scheme, the in-house CAD team at MPH produced a design that was user-friendly, energy-efficient and sympathetic to the surrounding environment. Specific building materials and colours were incorporated into the scheme to satisfy strict planning criteria.

The Challenges Of This Modular Nursery Building Replacement

At the initial site inspection, attended by MPH Director Jonathan Hunt, it was discovered that the site was formerly on the outskirts of a factory that had lead contamination. Jonathan explains, “having found that the site for the new nursery was potentially contaminated, a specialist company was drafted in to carry out boreholes and take samples of the ground”.

Following the investigation at the site, it was confirmed that the ground was contaminated. Not only had the site to be remediated, but it also required the installation of foundation piling to a depth of 5.000 metres. Despite the large-scale project ahead, and the tight timescale for completion, Jonathan said, “at MPH, health and safety is our number one priority. It was imperative that the site was made safe to house the children’s nursery before installation of the facility could commence”.

Installing The Replacement Modular Nursery Building

As the children were relocated to temporary premises, MPH undertook the demolition of the old nursery. During the site clearance, large sections of concrete weighing up to 23 tonnes had to be removed.

Once the site had been prepared, groundworks commenced. In conjunction with this, MPH set to work manufacturing and preparing the bespoke modular building off-site at their manufacturing headquarters. Using this flexible construction approach, which is pertinent to modular buildings, rather than employing traditional construction methods, greatly reduces time on site. As a result, the overall timescale for project completion is also reduced, as contractors can access the site unhindered to carry out preparatory works.

The nursery was successfully delivered, installed and completed on time and on budget to meet the exacting client specification. The state-of-the-art facility was Building Regulation compliant and conformed to the Disabled Discrimination Act, incorporating an efficient interior design.

As part of the grant provision, a specialist sub-contractor was employed to create a specially designed outdoor area with all-weather play areas, grassed areas, a sensory garden and a wildlife garden. For further details of the play area installation please click here

The children and staff at Broad Oak were thrilled as the modular building breathed new life into the nursery and MPH were particularly pleased to be involved with a challenging but enjoyable project on their doorstep. Jonathan said “we pride ourselves on providing a first class service to our clients, and we are delighted that we have been able to present the staff and children at Broad Oak with a modern nursery facility that they can enjoy for many years to come”.

Philip Aspden from JYM Partnership commented “MPH have proved themselves an extremely flexible contractor, with a positive attitude to contract variations. The two schemes that they completed (including Birstall Pre-School Nursery) were undertaken within tight timescales and difficult agreement of client requirements. Both schemes were delivered on time and to budget.”