Basildon Council selected modular building methods to create a new community centre and preschool facility for the Nevendon area, successfully fast tracking a valuable community asset with a tight construction schedule spanning just eight months from April to December 2019. The new facility replaces an existing preschool building and a nearby community centre, creating a multifunctional space located on a popular public park site.

The scheme, designed and built by Enviro Building Solutions, presented a range of practical and logistical challenges for modular construction methods. Featuring an event hall with a ceiling height of almost six metres, the project called for innovative methods of working including design, manufacture, transport and construction. This section of the building was cleverly crafted for a ‘flatpack' delivery method to overcome access issues as well as transportation restrictions. Enviro Building Solutions then used standard modular techniques to build the various sized modular bays in the factory, combining these with adapted systems on site to create varied ceiling heights within the building.

The attractive and functional construction houses a community event hall, preschool facility, full commercial kitchen, members' bar and lounge, washrooms and storage space. Externally, Enviro Building Solutions also managed the landscaping works, creating a large car park with overflow ‘grasscrete' area, upgrades to access roads, fencing, floodlighting, bin stores, cycle shed and a soft play area for the preschool facility.

The complex specification includes a range of external building features with cedar cladding, contrasting brick slip finishes, aluminium windows and doors in contrasting colours, brise soleil aluminium louvres, roller shutters for security and internal rainwater gutter systems to service the differing roof levels.

In addition to the practical site challenges, the advent of the annual local carnival meant that the project had to be shut down completely for a long weekend, with a safe access route created right across the active site for heavy vehicles to deliver rides and equipment.

Enviro Building Solutions were on site for just eight months with this project, constructing a new and modern facility far more quickly and efficiently than traditional building methods, which has been welcomed by the local community.

Visit www.envirobuildingsolutionsltd.co.uk for more information