Main contractor Galliford Try is delivering a £17 million project to replace the existing Hill West Primary School in Sutton Coldfield with a new, modern two-storey building. Designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation, the school will incorporate energy-efficient design principles alongside onsite renewable energy generation.
To further enhance the project’s sustainability credentials, carbon reduction considerations have also influenced the design and construction process. As part of this approach, Galliford Try has selected voestalpine Metsec Decarb for the SFS infill, showcasing the benefits of a lower-carbon steel solution.
A total of 1,200m² of light-gauge cold-rolled steel SFS will be installed by local steel framing specialists and approved Metsec framing installer, C G Reynolds.
Commenting on the project, Charlie Jones, Regional Sales Manager for Metsec SFS, said:
“Metsec Decarb is a genuine low carbon steel option, offering true reductions in embodied carbon without greenwashing.
“Hill West is the first school project to use Metsec Decarb and we believe that it will be the first of many as government departments, such as the Department for Education, have now set embodied carbon limits into their construction specification frameworks.
“It also contributes towards Galliford Try’s commitment to low-carbon construction and reducing their carbon footprint in both business operations and project delivery, which demands the adoption of innovative solutions.
“The use of Metsec Decarb on the Hill West project serves as a strong demonstration of this commitment, aligning with Galliford Try’s Net Zero Route Map, the Construction Leadership Council’s Five Client Commitments and initiatives such as the ‘One in a Million’ programme, which focuses on lowering embodied carbon through measures like reduced carbon steel procurement.
“We at Metsec are delighted to support Galliford Try in achieving their carbon-saving strategies for this project, providing an alternative that contributes meaningfully to their sustainability goals.”
Classified within Band E (<1,200 kgCO₂e/t) of the steel scale outlined in the Construction Leadership Council’s Five Client Commitments, Metsec Decarb provides a substantially lower embodied carbon alternative to conventional steel solutions. Metsec has also committed to achieving carbon neutrality across its operations by 2035.
As with all Metsec Decarb projects, voestalpine Metsec supplied project-specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for Hill West, including detailed calculations of embodied carbon savings. The EPD for the project demonstrates a 55% reduction in embodied CO₂ compared with standard steel.
Construction is progressing in phases, with SFS deliveries being coordinated to align with the project programme and ongoing site activities.