Client
The London Borough of Camden Council
Location
Camden, England, UK
Camden Schools
The Camden Building Schools for the Future programme transformed education across the borough, delivering four schools designed to raise attainment, widen access and serve as genuine community assets. From the 1,400-pupil UCL Academy to the pioneering Swiss Cottage specialist SEN school, these facilities give every young person in Camden the environment they need to thrive.
Financial Close
December 2010
Construction Period
2010 - 2014
Concession Period
25 years
Handback
2039
Client
The London Borough of Camden Council
Location
Camden, England, UK
Sponsor/Investor
Invesis
Consortium
Camden BSF SPV Ltd
Engineering Procurement and Construction
BAM Construction
Operations and Maintenance
BAM FM
Capital Value
€85m
Partnering with Camden Council to deliver world-class schools built around the needs of every pupil
In 2010, the London Borough of Camden entered the national Building Schools for the Future programme to address a significant shortage of school places and raise educational attainment across the borough. Invesis was appointed as lead investor and SPV manager, forming a Local Education Partnership (LEP) with Camden Borough Council to deliver the programme.
The LEP brought together Invesis (81%), Camden Borough Council (9%) and Partnerships for Schools (10%), working in partnership to design, build, finance and maintain four schools over a 25-year concession.
The programme delivered four schools: the 1,400-pupil UCL Academy, sponsored by University College London; the 232-pupil Swiss Cottage specialist SEN school; Regents High School, rebuilt for 1,300 pupils; and Netley School, part of a wider mixed-use development including affordable housing and a community learning centre. All four schools were delivered between 2012 and 2015, with BAM Construction and BAM FM as key delivery partners.
Pioneering world-first BIM technology to build and manage schools more efficiently
The Camden schools programme pioneered a world-first approach to building information modelling. UCL Academy became the first live implementation of 6D BIM - combining the physical dimensions of a building with time scheduling, cost and lifecycle maintenance data. Engineers save around 25 minutes per task by arriving with the right tools and full asset information, while caretakers resolve 16% more jobs thanks to real-time data on their iPads.
The programme also introduced an innovative Aviva private placement bond to fund the PFI schools - delivering significant savings on the unitary charge compared to traditional bank financing - and developed a purpose-built temporary facility for Swiss Cottage SEN pupils during construction, avoiding the disruption of a phased build for vulnerable students.
Creating sustainable, community-centred schools that reduce energy and broaden opportunity
- Ground source heat pumps provide the primary heating source, supported by solar thermal panels for hot water and a rainwater harvesting system to reduce mains water consumption.
- Solar PV panels generated over 47,000 kWh in 2023, contributing to grid independence across a 100% renewable electricity supply.
- 70% of lights have been replaced with LED systems as part of the ongoing lifecycle programme, with full replacement under way.
- No operational waste goes to landfill - all waste is recycled or sent to energy recovery.
- The Netley project achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating and a 56% reduction in carbon emissions; Regents High School achieved BREEAM Very Good.
- School facilities are open to the community outside school hours, with work experience and careers programmes delivered for local pupils.
