Concertus Monthly Round Up – February

As we look forward to the arrival of Spring, we are excited to provide a recap of our activities from February. Our team’s enthusiasm for creating a positive impact in the communities where we operate is genuinely inspiring. We are pleased with the remarkable progress our projects have made this year. We hope you enjoy this update!

New ambulance hub picks up pace in Ipswich
We are pleased to be working with Pentaco Construction Ltd to deliver the new £12.81m ambulance hub in Ipswich. The hub will allow more ambulances to be on the road and act as a base for 100 staff, moving from the current outdated site in Woodbridge Road East. The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) will also have dedicated welfare spaces, quiet spaces, and a wellbeing garden where colleagues can relax.

A total of £10m in funding will be provided by the Department of Health and Social Care, with a further £2.81m provided by EEAST. The design also accommodates future expansion. Fantastic progress is being made on site, ready for the official opening in September 2025.

Positive progress following fire at Otley Primary School
Following a fire in the pupil toilets before Christmas, our team responded quickly to assess the damage at Otley Primary School. Classes have been relocated to Witnesham Primary School, where we collaborated with Seamans Building to install temporary classrooms and facilities successfully. Hannah Evans, Executive Headteacher, expressed gratitude for the team’s efforts in getting the units set up despite the challenging weather. Our main goal is to return children to Otley Primary School as soon as possible. We are actively communicating with partners, including the insurance company, to secure repair funding and meet weekly to keep the project on schedule. Updates will follow in the coming months.

Work starts on new £5 million Derbyshire County Council facilities
We are thrilled to have been part of the ground breaking event at Spire Lodge in Chesterfield recently. The new £5 million facilities, funded by Derbyshire County Council, will provide essential short-break and long-term care for children and young people with significant disabilities and complex learning needs.

We look forward to sharing updates on the project ahead of the official opening due in November. Find out more about the project here.

New SEND facilities at Ipswich Academy
We’re thrilled to announce that we are working with Suffolk County Council and Paradigm Trust to deliver a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) block at Ipswich Academy.

This development will help the school cater to students with diverse needs, with specially designed facilities for 24 Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students with cognition and learning difficulties. The new two-classroom block will ensure that every child, regardless of their learning journey, has the support they need to thrive. Subject to consultation, places will be available from January 2026. We look forward to sharing updates as this project progresses in the coming months.

New MUGA pitch completes at Bedfordshire school
Work is progressing well at Edward Peake CofE School in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. We are pleased that the new MUGA pitch is now complete and will be an excellent addition to the school’s sports facilities.

The new sports hall is really taking shape, with the steel frame erected and the concrete ground and first-floor slabs formed. It will provide modern facilities with space for three badminton courts, a full basketball court, and cricket nets. An upper level will accommodate activities such as dance, aerobics, and yoga. We are working with Barnes Construction for Central Bedfordshire Council on this project. Find out more about the project by visiting our website here.

New Case Study!
Fire Compartmentation Surveys
Concertus was commissioned to design and project manage fire remedial works following non-intrusive fire risk assessments conducted by a third party across various educational institutions in Derbyshire. These included primary schools, junior schools, nurseries, and sports colleges. The primary objective was to ensure the implementation of correct fire safety measures, ensuring full compliance with fire safety regulations. Read our case study here.

Celebrating our people
Trainee Architectural Assistant completes project at London South Bank University
We are pleased to share that Trainee Architectural Assistant Oliver Langner has recently completed his semester one project in the final year of the degree apprenticeship at London South Bank University.

Ioana Petkova, Oliver’s design studio tutor at London South Bank University, said, “Throughout his academic work, Oliver has shown great dedication, thoughtfulness and creativity, often developing the work independently. He is willing to move outside of his comfort zone, and his enthusiasm, positive response to feedback, and continuous improvement make me confident in Oliver’s successful completion of the course and progression to a Part 2 degree.”

Congratulations to Oliver for his project and incredible tutor feedback. In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with him where he shared valuable advice for anyone considering an apprenticeship.

Watch the video here.

Read more about Olliver’s project here.