Lidl Deer Park School

The Project

Deer Park School opened as a Free school in September 2015 and previously operated from temporary accommodation. Finding a permanent location for the school proved a challenge, as space in London is at a premium. With the support and drive of the Local Authority, who worked closely with the Department for Education and Bellevue Place Education Trust, a site was found in the right area and an innovative proposal developed with the owners, the Lidl supermarket operator.

Mixed-use development

Working with Kier Construction, Lawray was responsible for technical design of the two-form entry primary school which is located on a podium deck above the supermarket.

Fourteen classrooms, a large dining hall, a dedicated library and specialist classrooms for design and technology are provided together with an outdoor multi-use games area and playground on top of the commercial retail to the rear of the site.

Designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’

The building features an array of PVs on the roof, a NVHR heating and ventilation system, and an Innovare SIPs system with fabricated insulated panels to improve heating efficiency. Modular construction was also used to speed up delivery. Technical delivery also required careful resolution of fire, security, acoustic and transport servicing matters in addition to the discharge of detailed planning conditions and DfE requirements.

Setting a new precedent

The design of the building demonstrates how a mixed-use development can create a new typology for urban areas where space is tight.