Scunthorpe SEND College targets Passivhaus
Trent View College in Scunthorpe is a post-16 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) college that combines inclusive education with Passivhaus efficiency. Once certified, it will be one of the first Passivhaus SEND educational buildings in the UK, the £12 million, 60-place facility is purpose-built to remove barriers to learning and support young people with a wide range of needs.
The building is single storey with level access throughout and is zoned into two distinct areas, the main entrance block with administration and large shared spaces and a teaching wing with associated support spaces. The school also includes a hydrotherapy pool, changing facilities and a playing field, which are made available for use by the local community outside hours.
Trent View College was designed by PHT member HLM Architects, with PHT member Gale & Snowden as Passivhaus Designer and PHT Patron WARM as Certifer. PHT members CPW and Cundall were M&E Designers on the project.
Key stats
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This project shows what’s possible when a team truly commits to Passivhaus. The project was not without its challenges, including the incorporation of a hydrotherapy pool, but determination and collaboration helped overcome these. It’s a project we’re proud to have supported – proof that even the toughest briefs can deliver outstanding results. Adam Scott, Passivhaus Designer, Gale & Snowden |
Construction
The College was built using a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) frame panelised system The project team team opted to use an offsite solution for the external wall insulation and build up, to help ensure the Passivhaus standard airtightness requirements could be achieved and to save construction time on site.
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We are delighted that Trent View College will be built to stringent Passivhaus environmental credentials, supporting our commitment to carbon responsibility and environmental sustainability. In addition, the building's design principles will offer teaching opportunities and provide excellent material for inclusion in the College's vibrant and broad curriculum. At Wellspring, we understand the importance of space in creating exceptional learning environments for our pupils. Josh Greaves, Deputy CEO, Wellspring Academy Trust |
U-values |
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Roof: 0.102 W/m2K Warm roof over CLT roof deck , with 335 mm mineral wool |
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Wall: 0.118 W/m2K (average) Timber cladding or brick veneer, with a ventilated cavity. 220 mm mineral wool insulation fitted between timber I-joists. CLT walls lined internally with 63 mm mineral wool between timber battens, |
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Floor: 0.121 W/m2K Concrete raft foundation with XPS insulation below slab (various thicknesses 180 – 530 mm) |
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Building performance
Designed energy performance |
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Airtightness n50 (≤ 0.6ACH @ 50 Pa)
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0.5 @ 50 Pa
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Space Heating Demand (≤ 15 kWh/m².a)
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14.7 kWh/m².a
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Heating Load (≤ 10 W/m²)
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9.8 W/m²
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Primary Energy Renewable (PER) Demand (≤ 60 kWh/m².a*)
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62 kWh/m².a
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Primary Energy Renewable Generation
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8 kWh/m².a
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*+/-15 kWh/m².a allowance if offset by energy generation. See Passivhaus criteria.
Services
Ventilation: MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery) system was used for the College, to meet Passivhaus indoor air quality requirements.
Summer comfort: External canopies and internal blinds were used as part of the shading strategy. Each classroom has an external canopied space.
Heating: ASHP (air source heat pump) systems were used to provide heating and hot water for the College.
Renewables: A solar PV array on the roof, comprising 58 panels, generates approximately 20 MWh annually.
Challenges & lessons learned
Form factor: Although a two-storey building would have been the most efficient form to meet the Passivhaus requirements, this would have resulted in limitations to flexible teaching spaces with access to outdoor areas – one of the client's key requirements. As a solution, a single-storey L-shaped building design was proposed with reorganised administrative facilities to allow classrooms to sit on either side, enabling external spaces for each classroom. To ensure the Passivhaus requirements were still met, the team had to increase insulation in key areas. In addition, care needed to be taken to ensure that canopy foundations were freestanding to minimise their impact on thermal bridge calculations. These solutions allowed for both flexibility to accommodate the varying needs of the students, alongside Passivhaus performance requirements.
Offsite manufacture: The project team found that specifying the offsite Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) frame panelised system allowed for a more robust quality control process which ensured a single clear airtight line could be achieved and saved construction time on site.
High energy demand: To combat the higher electrical load needed to facilitate a SEND school, the team ensured the school was equipped with all energy efficient appliances. This not only supports the school in meeting the primary energy demand of the building but also reduces its carbon emissions and lowers running and maintenance costs. Reducing the internal heat gains from appliances can also help with reducing any overheating risk.
Architect’s viewHLM is incredibly proud to have been involved in the design and delivery of this unique special school. The new building will not only provide much needed school places and specialist facilities for post 16 students with SEND in North Lincolnshire but, also provide numerous benefits offered by Passivhaus design including; an energy efficient, sustainable, high performing building; lowered running cost; and a comfortable internal environment improving health and wellbeing of students and staff. The success of the design has been achieved through a collaborative process involving the Trust and DfE and provides a contemporary, exemplary sustainable school which meets the very specialist needs of the building users.Through engagement with the Trust and DfE team, we’ve developed a Passivhaus design that is contemporary and also meets the very specialist needs of the end users. Catherine Ward, Associate & SEN Lead, HLM Architects |
Key team
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We look forward to hearing more about the project at the UK & Ireland Passivhaus Conference 2025 on 8 October 2025, Simon Bell from HLM Architects will be speaking in the 'How to deliver Passivhaus New build' section of the Conference.
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The projects below are all Passivhaus-certified educational buildings. Discover more projects on our Passivhaus Schools & Educational Buildings pages.
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Further information
Trent View College, Scunthorpe
Passivhaus for Educational Buildings
Previous PHT story: Modular school building achieves Passivhaus Plus – 30 March 2023
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Trent View College in Scunthorpe is a world-first post-16 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) college that combines inclusive education with Passivhaus efficiency. The £12 million, 60-place facility is purpose-built to remove barriers to learning and support young people with a wide range of needs, offering an environment that promotes independence, life skills and employability. Its design blends high-quality vocational training spaces with therapeutic provision, creating a unique and holistic learning experience. Students can gain practical skills in a commercial kitchen preparing meals, a public café delivering hospitality services, and a fully equipped vehicle workshop for maintenance and repair. Complementing these are specialist therapeutic facilities including a hydrotherapy pool, a rebound area for physical development, and immersive sensory rooms that cater to a variety of sensory and communication needs.
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1st August 2025
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