Grazebrook Primary School
Project Overview
Project: Roof-mounted ballasted solar photovoltaic 108.24 kWp installation
Client: New Wave Federation
Contract value: £135k
Daniel Connal Partnership was appointed by the New Wave Federation to manage and deliver a new solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at Grazebrook Primary School in Hackney, London.
The project formed part of the Federation’s and the London Borough of Hackney’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, lowering operational energy costs, and providing sustainability-focused learning opportunities for pupils.
The scheme involved the installation of a 108.24 kWp ballasted solar PV system across the school’s single storey 1970s CLASP (Consortium of Local Authorities Special Programme) buildings.
The project presented several key challenges, including the requirement for detailed structural assessments to verify capacity and inform a safe, compliant design.
Furthermore, construction had to be completed within the school summer holiday period to minimise disruption to teaching activities, so programme certainty was critical. Through early engagement with stakeholders and the contractor, we identified and mitigated risks associated with structural requirements, system selection, logistics, and installation sequencing, enabling a smooth mobilisation and efficient commencement of works.
Our close coordination with the contractor ensured progress was maintained against key programme milestones—the project was completed in four weeks.
Daniel Connal Partnership provided an efficient integrated in-house service including Project Management, Structural Engineering, Quantity Surveying, and Principal Designer services under CDM 2015 and the Building Safety Act 2022. This, combined with our proactive collaborative approach and rigorous project controls, ensured the installation was delivered successfully within the agreed timescale and budget.
Grazebrook Primary School, London E5