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Meadowdale Primary School in Market Harborough marked a major milestone with the official opening of its new Woodland Building - a modern, sustainable teaching facility designed and project managed by YMD Boon.
The new single-storey building was unveiled in a celebratory event led by Mr Robert Nixon, Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire. The event brought together school staff, governors, local families, neighbours from Elizabeth Place, and project partners.
Appointed to replace two ageing mobile blocks that had long exceeded their design life, the Woodland Building provides four new classrooms, an intervention space, accessible toilets, and a dedicated playground for the school’s Key Stage 1 pupils. The project has resolved significant site and space challenges while delivering a high-quality learning environment that will serve the school community for decades to come.
Liz Martin, Head Teacher at Meadowdale, said:
“We are so thrilled with The Woodland Building. It was 10 years in the making, with lots of hoops to jump through, but we couldn’t be prouder of what has been achieved. Just 12 months ago we had a lovely drawing and the old mobiles were still in situ. Thanks to the incredible hard work of our contractors, architects, and the flexibility of our staff and pupils, we now have this gorgeous new building which will enable our pupils to grow and thrive as they should.”
The scheme was made possible through a successful application to the Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF), led by YMD Boon. The team undertook in-depth site analysis and feasibility studies, navigating the constraints of a landlocked site bordered by residential homes and a main road, to deliver a bespoke design that makes the most of the limited available space.
A standout feature of the design is the green sedum roof, which promotes biodiversity, absorbs CO₂, and provides a valuable educational resource to help pupils learn about sustainability and the environment. Additional landscaping has enhanced outdoor play provision and supports the school’s wider commitment to outdoor learning.
The final phase of the school’s redevelopment will take place in winter 2025, with the creation of a new Forest School area that will further connect children with nature and outdoor learning.
