Hertfordshire-based main contractor Pexhurst, working alongside construction consultancy CS2, has completed a circa £4.5 million transformation of a historic property in Hemel Hempstead. Previously used as The Boys' Brigade's training centre for over 70 years, the site has been repurposed into Felden Hall School, a specialist SEN facility for the Witherslack Group.

Set across 18.55 acres, the new school consists of three primary structures: separate buildings for primary and secondary education and a dedicated sports hall. The project involved extensive internal and external refurbishments to deliver 32 SEN classrooms. These include bespoke science laboratories and food technology facilities, all integrated with essential safeguarding measures and accessibility features.

The internal reconfiguration required significant structural work to install robust partition walls. To address subsidence in one of the buildings, the team utilised a modern resin injection technique instead of traditional underpinning, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution to strengthen the foundations. Additionally, the property benefited from the installation of a new heating system, LED lighting, and the replacement of all windows.

-- Advertisement --

Outside the buildings, the project included the creation of a new car park featuring EV charging points, as well as the installation of electric entry gates and perimeter fencing. The surrounding grounds were landscaped, which included the planting of native hedging.

Lee Stuart, director at Pexhurst, said: "Projects such as this are incredibly rewarding, not only due to the nature of the building but also because it's clear to see the difference you are making to a community. Our first project with Witherslack Group, hopefully with more to come, it is clear to see their passion for creating high-quality spaces that the pupils will hugely benefit from having access to.

"The unique location of this site didn't come without its challenges. Unlike many of the out-of-town industrial sites we work on, Felden Hall has restricted access routes that couldn't be reached by much of our supply chain. Our team of experts, however, were tenacious in their approach to overcome every challenge and we are very proud to have been able to bring Witherslack Group's vision to life."

Felden Hall School will cater to pupils aged five to sixteen with special educational needs, including autism, ADHD, and speech, language, and communication difficulties. The facility joins the Witherslack Group's wider UK network of 38 Ofsted-rated 'Outstanding' schools and children's homes.

Mark Long, head of property development at Witherslack Group, said: "Felden Hall School is an extraordinary property that perfectly reflects our commitment to providing an inspirational learning environment, a place where children and young people with special educational needs can truly feel safe and, importantly, thrive, and it has been great to work alongside the Pexhurst team as it has been transformed.

"With 1.7 million pupils in England identified as having special educational needs and disabilities, we know all too well that the need for specialist provision has never been greater. Every young person deserves access to high-quality, SEN-specific education, and Felden Hall School represents a significant step forward in expanding those opportunities."