Greenstone Primary School, Leicestershire

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Building Leicestershire’s First Forest School

CLIENT: Harworth Group
ARCHITECT: Lungfish Architects
PROGRAMME: 49 weeks
VALUE: £11.4m

Located on the fringes of the National Forest, Greenstone Primary School is Leicestershire’s first purpose-built Forest School, designed around outdoor learning, sustainability, and wellbeing. Delivered by Stepnell for Harworth Group, the project provides a two-form entry primary school with capacity for 420 pupils – forming a cornerstone of Harworth’s sustainable South East Coalville community, which will include over 2,000 new homes.

Designed by Lungfish Architects, the school’s six single-storey timber pavilions integrate seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. The design reduces reliance on internal corridors, instead linking classrooms via landscaped pathways that encourage pupils to engage with the natural environment throughout the school day.

Sustainable Design and Low-Carbon Construction

Greenstone Primary School was developed with forest school principles at its heart, combining modern teaching facilities with a natural, low-impact setting. Each pavilion is oriented to maximise solar gain and daylight, with full-height glazing and clerestory windows that reduce reliance on artificial lighting and enhance wellbeing.

To meet Harworth’s sustainability ambitions, Stepnell and the design team used i-FAST Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) — an off-site manufactured system offering exceptional fire, acoustic, structural and thermal performance. This choice delivered significant embodied-carbon savings while maintaining high quality and durability.

The material palette of timber, render, brick and metal complements the school’s forest setting while promoting longevity and low maintenance. The scheme also incorporates a 63m² roof-mounted PV array, air source heat pumps, and energy-efficient systems, all contributing to the school’s EPC A rating and a building emissions rate of 3.97 kgCO₂/m²/yr.

Exceeding Carbon Targets

In collaboration with CarbonLEAF and the University of Lincoln, Stepnell undertook a full embodied carbon assessment using OneClick LCA software — benchmarking performance against the RIBA Climate Challenge 2030 and RICS Whole Life Carbon guidance.

Results demonstrated measurable savings and tangible sustainability outcomes:

  • 13% reduction in embodied carbon, from 564.95 to 489.58 kgCO₂e/m² – exceeding RIBA 2030 targets.
  • 100 tCO₂e saved through concrete optimisation.
  • 134.2 tCO₂e sequestration achieved through timber structure.
  • 33% reduction in site-operation emissions versus RICS estimates.

This collaborative, data-driven approach elevated Greenstone Primary School’s OneClick Carbon Heroes rating from C to B, outperforming industry benchmarks for UK schools.

“This project is a great example of a dedicated team approach to carbon awareness in procurement and delivery leading to measurable savings after tender stage.”
— Dr Rosi Fieldson, Lincoln School of Design and Architecture

Operational Energy Efficiency

Step Energy our specialist energy and renewables business delivered a high-performance Solar PV system at Greenstone Primary School, supporting the school’s sustainability ambitions and low-carbon operational goals.

The installation forms part of the school’s wider low-carbon design strategy, contributing directly to operational carbon reduction:

Installed DC Power: 14.65 kWp
Annual Solar Energy Production: 13,070 kWh
CO₂ Saved Per Year: 2.53 tonnes (equivalent to planting 116 trees annually)
Solar Modules: 34
Performance Ratio: 90%

The PV system provides long-term benefits, cutting emissions, lowering energy costs, and supporting climate-conscious learning environments.

Delivering for the Community

The new school supports Harworth Group’s goal of delivering resilient, low-carbon communities and aligns with Leicestershire County Council’s net-zero objectives. It provides state-of-the-art learning spaces that promote independence, exploration and outdoor engagement — values embedded within the Lionheart Educational Trust, which will operate the school.

“We are excited to open our doors to our first class of learners in September 2025. Outdoor learning and forest school are at the heart of everything we do.”
— Natalie Yeomans, Head of School

Bespoke Joinery

Our specialist joinery business Lawford Bespoke Joinery expertly crafted the curved benches, picnic benches, window boards, cubes, and bollards, enhancing the school’s nature-focused learning environment. With natural, durable materials, Lawford Bespoke Joinery aligns with the school’s commitment to fostering creativity and resilience in children, making nature an integral part of their educational journey.

Key Project Stats

  • Embodied carbon: 489.58 kgCO₂e/m² (RIBA 2030 compliant)
  • Operational emissions: 3.97 kgCO₂/m²/yr
  • EPC rating: A
  • Programme: September 2023 – October 2024

Delivered on time and within budget, the project achieved a 9/10 client satisfaction score, underscoring Stepnell’s commitment to quality, collaboration and sustainability in education construction.