Client: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd Loxdale Primary School, located in Bilston near Wolverhampton, is a new two-form entry primary school built as part of the Bilston Urban Village development. The school’s new location was developed on a former coal mine, which required extensive ground investigations and mine remediation to ensure site stability. The project involved relocating the existing school to a new facility designed to meet growing demand for school places in the area. The modern building features state-of-the-art classrooms, administrative spaces, and extensive outdoor areas for play and recreation, providing a high-quality learning environment for students. Services we provided Water Engineering & Flood Risk Geotechnical & Ground Engineering Ground Investigation & Land Quality Structural Engineering Our Role BWB delivered a comprehensive range of multi- disciplinary engineering and environmental services for Loxdale Primary School. Our involvement began with detailed ground investigations to assess the site’s suitability for development. The school was sited on an old open-cut coal mine that had been infilled, and approximately 20 mine shafts lay beneath the building footprint. Our engineers undertook an extensive programme of mine shaft location and treatment, ensuring that all shafts were grouted and stabilised prior to construction. Complex ground conditions The made ground and previous mining activity presented significant challenges for foundation design. BWB’s solution involved designing a reinforced concrete raft foundation supported by deep vibro-stone columns to evenly distribute loads and prevent differential settlement. This robust foundation system was essential in ensuring the long-term stability of the new school building. Extensive earthworks Our civil engineering team also managed complex differences in elevation between the adjacent road and the site, which required extensive earthworks and the construction of retaining structures. These designs were integrated with the site’s drainage strategy to provide safe and effective water management. We developed an attenuation system beneath the playground area to manage surface water runoff, preventing flooding and ensuring compliance with local authority requirements.