Coventry school to get pioneering 'net zero' sports building

A Coventry school is getting a new eco-friendly sports building which will influence how schools are built in future. The city council approved the 'net zero' single-storey block at West Coventry Academy yesterday, 3 July.

The facility next to a 9x9 football pitch will have changing rooms, toilets and showers, staff areas and places to store equipment. People in the community will be able to use it outside school hours, plans added.

But the so-called "pod" will also play a role in a government research project for new ultra low-carbon schools. Called 'GenZero' the scheme involves building schools with construction kits using UK timber and supply chains.

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These theories are now going to be tested in practice with three buildings across the UK, including the suite at West Coventry Academy. Documents with plans said the school is "very keen" on the extra space.

They have agreed with government "asks" on capturing environmental data on the inside spaces as well as "monitoring the physical materials" that are used. Plans said data from the project "will inform the DfE going forward to ultimately guide decision making on sustainable construction methods and sports facility provision within schools across the UK in future."

It will also test how schoolkids access outdoor sport, a statement added. "The changing rooms have been designed to change the perception and uptake in external team sports."

The block will go on green space at the school which recently had a £38 million rebuild with low carbon materials and near net-zero emissions. Two people objected to the plans, according to a council officer report.

They said there was "not enough information" on the pods and had concerns over parking and noise. But council officers did not share the concerns, with the report pointing out the nearest home is 45 metres away and parking is "sufficient" for the scheme.

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