Project News
Planning approval secured for the GenZero Woodside Primary School in Hertfordshire
by AHR
We're delighted to reach this milestone for the new single storey school, which is one of five pioneering GenZero national pathfinder schools from the Department for Education (DfE), helping shape low carbon, healthy learning environments.
Working with Galliford Try, this approval brings us one step closer towards providing a school that feels warm, is simple to navigate and rooted in nature. It will comfortably welcome 210 primary pupils, with a 30 place nursery alongside, creating the right mix of spaces for play, discovery and the everyday moments that build confidence.
GenZero ambition, delivered in a practical way
As a GenZero pathfinder school, Woodside Primary School is designed to support comfort, performance and lower running costs over the life of the building. We have aligned the design with the DfE’s GenZero approach, focusing on a fabric-first strategy and on-site renewable energy.
It joins the AHR-designed Wellfield Academy in Leyland, another of the DfE’s GenZero schools which will provide 900 secondary school places.
We’ve designed Woodside to feel calm and welcoming from day one, with clear routes, bright classrooms and nature close by. The shared courtyard and outdoor learning spaces give children room to grow, while the GenZero approach helps keep the building comfortable and low carbon to run."
Gary Overton
Project Director, BristolGenuinely inclusive and sustainable in a way that works day-to-day
The plan is arranged into three clear, single storey blocks, linked by a covered walkway. This simple layout supports intuitive wayfinding and keeps movement easy for children, families and visitors.
At the centre, the courtyard brings daylight into the plan and creates a calm shared space for outdoor dining and everyday moments together."
Kim Lodge
Project Lead, LondonKey sustainability features include:
- Fabric-first design to reduce heat loss and improve comfort
- Solar photovoltaics (PV) to support net zero carbon in operation
- Rain gardens and sustainable drainage (SuDS) to manage surface water naturally
- Nature-led outdoor learning areas that support wellbeing and everyday learning
The rain gardens and drainage features create richer habitats and give children visible, real-world learning moments in the landscape around them.
Frequently asked questions
GenZero is the Department for Education’s approach to delivering low carbon, healthy schools. Pathfinder projects, like Woodside Primary School, help test and prove what works in real settings.
We combine a fabric-first approach with on-site renewables, including solar PV. This supports high performance, comfort and lower energy demand.
The school is single storey and organised into clear blocks with a covered walkway. That supports easy access, intuitive wayfinding and welcoming movement for everyone.
We kept mature trees where possible and created outdoor learning spaces. Rain gardens and SuDS manage water naturally while adding habitats and teaching opportunities.
Posted on:
Mar 19th 2026
Topics:
Share on
Related Articles
Thought Leadership
Net zero and the future learning estate: Embedding GenZero principles through CF25 delivery
We explore how sustainable school design, CF25 delivery and GenZero principles are transforming England's learning estate for net zero carbon.
Date: 19 Feb 26
by AHR
Thought Leadership
Sustainable Communities for Learning: Building Wales’s next generation of schools
Gary Overton discusses how Wales’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme is transforming education through long-term investment in net zero, inclusive and community-focused schools.
Date: 17 Feb 26
by Gary Overton
Director, Architecture
Project News
Planning approved for Wellfield Academy, one of five GenZero national pathfinder schools
We're delighted that planning approval has been granted for the redevelopment of Wellfield Academy in Leyland, one of five GenZero national pathfinder schools.
Date: 6 Jan 26
by AHR
Thought Leadership
Transforming education estates through sustainable, inclusive and inspiring design
From sustainable schools and universities to inclusive SEND campuses and adaptive reuse projects, we create educational spaces that inspire, nurture wellbeing, and meet net-zero and retrofit goals.
Date: 3 Oct 25