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Location: Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire
Client: Hertfordshire Schools Building Partnership (Hertfordshire County Council / Balfour Beatty Construction)
Value: Undisclosed
Status: Completed 2024
The Bishop’s Stortford High School
ArchitecturePLB was commissioned by Hertfordshire Schools Building Partnership to lead the design for the relocation of The Bishop’s Stortford High School from its existing town centre site to a new campus forming part of the wider Bishop’s Stortford South residential development, off Whittington Way.
The new school is designed as a 6FE secondary school for 900 pupils plus 400 sixth formers, but with an 8FE core built in from the outset to allow future expansion to 1,600+ pupils. ArchitecturePLB developed the feasibility study, outline planning application, and subsequent design stages, working closely with the school and HCC to shape a building that responds both to the school’s specific requirements and to the parameters of the emerging masterplan context. A 'street and fingers' layout was selected in consultation with the school to provide a clear circulation strategy, accommodate a storey-height level change across the site, and allow straightforward future expansion.
The site presented significant challenges, including a steeply sloping topography requiring substantial earthworks and terracing, sustainable drainage constraints, and the need to preserve long-distance views from the Hertfordshire Way public footpath along the northern boundary. The scheme includes a community-accessible separate sports building, extensive external sports provision, and parking and cycle infrastructure, all designed in accordance with BB103 guidance. The school opened at its new St James’ Park campus in September 2024.
Project Team
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