FP McCann’s Precast Concrete Structural Frame System Specified on Northant’s Primary School

Project: Overstone Gate Primary School, Overstone Leys, Northampton

Client: West Northamptonshire Council

Architect: pHp Architects 

Main Contractor: Steele & Bray

Precast Structural Frame Installer: FP McCann

FP McCann Product Supplied: Precast Internal Walls; Insulated External Architectural Sandwich Panels; Hollowcore Flooring; Columns, Slab and Canopies.

FP McCann’s structural precast concrete frame division is working in collaboration with Chartered construction company Steele & Bray on a new state-of-the-art primary school for 420 pupils on the outskirts of Northampton. Overstone Gate Primary School, which will be part of the Northampton Free School Trust, is based on the Overstone Leys housing development and will be open to pupils in September 2026. The modern, energy-efficient school will comprise 14 Classrooms, ICT, DT and food technology facilities, as well as outdoor recreation areas and an amphitheatre.

Working closely alongside Steele & Bray and the building designer pHp Architects on behalf of client West Northamptonshire Council, FP McCann’s engineers and supply and install teams were able to satisfy the criteria for the project’s design, embracing the 2030 operational carbon targets of the building by employing Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). With airtightness a key element of the embodied carbon targets set in line with the Net Zero Carbon Public Sector Building Standard, FP McCann’s structural precast concrete frame is integral to the building achieving these goals.

The crosswall construction consists of precast concrete hollowcore floor slabs, internal walls, external architectural sandwich panels, external columns, slabs, and canopies and FP McCann has also built a supporting steel frame for the double height hall and plant areas. The precast structural frame system was chosen by pHp Architects at an early stage in recognition of the speed of construction and the internal and external build qualities and finishes that off-site precast concrete offers.

A notable feature of the external insulated sandwich panel walling is the repeating decorative pattern created using specially designed moulds at FP McCann’s architectural precast factory at Littleport in Cambridgeshire. Additionally, precast concrete roof boxes and integral roof skylight panels enhance the unique characteristics of the building. The precast structural frame has helped to significantly reduce the construction time compared to that of a traditional build together with other benefits associated with MMC, such as safe operating practice, reduced wastage and all-weather working.

Commenting on the distinctive low-level build, Director at Steele & Bray Steve Burditt says, “pHp Architects adopted the FP McCann off-site precast concrete structural building system for Overstone Gate Primary School in recognition of the design requirements, operational carbon targets, and our construction programme. Precast concrete is a well tried and tested off-site methodology that brings enhanced quality and delivery confidence to such groundbreaking and innovative projects. The partnership with FP McCann will enable us to hand over to West Northamptonshire Council a modern, energy efficient and sustainable learning facility to support and enhance student development.”

For further information on FP McCann’s Off-site solutions, contact sales@fpmccann.co.uk