Suffolk’s first net-zero-in-operation school, Lakenheath Community Primary School, reaches milestone

The county’s first ‘net-zero-in-operation’ school has reached a key milestone in its build.

Lakenheath Community Primary School, currently in Mill Road, is moving to a brand new, ‘innovative’ building in land off Station Road.

This will be Suffolk County Council’s first net-zero-in-operation school, with features including ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps, LED lighting, triple glazing and roof-mounted solar panels.

A recent ceremonial steel signing event involved councillors, members of the project team and the school.

Headteacher Michael Tingey said: "It's fantastic to see the building project starting to come together after years of planning.

“We're working closely with the local authority and contractors to ensure the best possible learning environment for our children.

“We can't wait to move into our new, modern, sustainable building next September."

The development of Lakenheath Primary and Pre-School is to meet a heightened demand for early and primary years education, which has been driven by the increased housing developments in the area.

The new 420-place primary school will also feature a brand new 30-place nursery on site.

The school will have state-of-the-art leisure and sporting facilities, as well as hard and soft landscaped outside play areas.

Procured through the Suffolk Construction and Building Services Framework, design and property consultants Concertus appointed Pentaco Construction in June, and work began on site in July this year.

Cllr Andrew Reid, cabinet member for education and SEND at Suffolk County Council, said: "Suffolk County Council is proud to be delivering its first school in Suffolk that will be net zero in operation, as we prepare to move the existing school to its new, larger site.

“The next year is an exciting journey for the pupils of Lakenheath Primary, who are following the build process with STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) days at their school with the Pentaco and Concertus teams, to give them real life learning experiences of the construction industry."

Charles Coulson, associate director at Concertus, said: “Having been involved since the inception stages, we have overcome many acoustic challenges due to its proximity to the RAF Lakenheath airbase. We are immensely proud of our team for creating an incredibly innovative school that sets a new standard for educational facilities across the region.”

The building is located within the site's southwest corner and features an L-shaped design that maximises natural light while minimising overheating.

The roof-mounted Photovoltaic (PV) system has been optimised and paired with modular battery storage to maximise the use of free energy, with smart integrated controls in place to prevent excess energy usage.

Andrew Grady, managing director at Pentaco Construction, said: “We are incredibly proud to be delivering Suffolk County Council’s first net-zero-in-operation school, a project that reflects our shared commitment to sustainable development.

“Reaching this key milestone highlights the strength of collaboration and technical expertise across the entire project team. We remain focused on delivering a high-quality build, ensuring the design intent is fully realised and creating an inspiring learning environment for generations to come.”

The school’s new building is due to open in September 2026.