ISG/ESS school building to be demolished over ‘significant structural issues’
Summary
A partially completed £31m school building at Matford Brook Academy in Exeter is to be demolished and rebuilt after a Kier review identified significant structural and compliance issues. The Department for Education has concluded the defects cannot be resolved to the required standard, following the collapse of ISG and ESS Modular and a prolonged delay to the project.
Why it matters
The case highlights the potential consequences of contractor insolvency and the need for robust technical due diligence on partially completed schemes. For surveyors, it underscores the importance of identifying structural non-compliance early, particularly where occupation certification and handover are at risk.
Key points
- Kier’s review found significant structural and compliance issues in the partially completed building.
- The Department for Education has decided the safest route is to demolish and replace the structure.
- The school has been operating from temporary accommodation while the permanent building remained unfinished.
- ISG and ESS Modular both entered administration, contributing to the project failure.
- A new contractor is being sought to deliver a replacement school building.
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