Colwall C of E Primary School

Quattro was appointed to provide a new 210 place primary school on a greenfield site; designed to respond to the rural setting and valued backdrop of The Malvern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

This site had several constraints:

• The Malvern Hills AONB; designated landscape of national importance
• Native ecology and biodiversity
• Highways connectivity to the wider community
• Maintain Public Rights of Way
• Proximity of a Scheduled Ancient Monument

These constraints meant the planning context was extremely sensitive and complex therefore, a busy programme of open dialogue with the Planning Department was essential.

Local Delivery: Compliance with the ESFA Cost Plan and FOS was mandatory.

Quattro’s Design solution:

• Designed to be sympathetic and landscape led
• Minimise impact within AONB
• Maximise views and connections with AONB
• Create a ‘sense of place’
• New school to have a strong identity
• Embrace school’s ethos

A combined Landscape Visual Impact Assessment and Environmental Colour Assessment (ECA) of the site informed the design.

The Planning Officer considered this a first regionally, if not nationally.

Our design contributes to society:

• The hall is a ‘community hub’
• Improvements to PROW
• Highways improvements
• Reinstatement of historic hedgerow.