Celebrating the transformation of Bury College’s campus in a recent statement, Mike Bromley, Head of Estates and Health and Safety at Bury College, said: “Leading this project over the past three years has been a real privilege. Working alongside our fantastic design team and builders, we’ve made huge improvements across many parts of the College estate. In what feels like three very short years, we’ve transformed the College and made a real, lasting difference to the learner experience. The best part has been seeing these new spaces come to life and genuinely make a positive impact – not just on the college community, but on Bury as a whole.”

Continuing our successful relationship with the College and 10architects, our team provided building services designs for this significant building. With sustainability a key project theme, our specialists focused on reducing operational carbon emissions and minimising energy consumption in use. This saw the installation of air source heat pumps, 100 sqm of photovoltaic panels, and a passive natural ventilation system with night cooling. Together with a highly efficient building envelope, these measures deliver a 45% improvement over current Part L CO₂ targets.

In a further boost to the facilities on offer in the campus’ southern area, the most recent development saw the construction of a compact new stand-alone catering facility. Known as ‘Our Lady’s’, this sits adjacent to the St. Vincent’s building and provides a kitchen space and break-out area for students. Our team provided the building services design for this scheme which completed in September 2025, once again seeing us work with 10architects to deliver a highly functional catering facility.

In a boost to accessibility, the scheme also saw the creation of a new entrance which is designed to accommodate all users and removing the requirement for separate entrances. Our structures design enabled this feature entrance, with our specialists also unlocking the potential of the revised internal spaces.

Celebrating the transformation of Bury College’s campus in a recent statement, Mike Bromley, Head of Estates and Health and Safety at Bury College, said: “Leading this project over the past three years has been a real privilege. Working alongside our fantastic design team and builders, we’ve made huge improvements across many parts of the College estate. In what feels like three very short years, we’ve transformed the College and made a real, lasting difference to the learner experience. The best part has been seeing these new spaces come to life and genuinely make a positive impact – not just on the college community, but on Bury as a whole.”

To learn more about how we’re unlocking the potential of learning spaces across the UK, head to our dedicated education sector webpage.

The development achieved compliance with the NHS Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (NZCBS); a landmark accomplishment that sets a precedent across NHS England. This is the first building within NHS England to meet the rigorous sustainability stipulations outlined in their NZCBS, underscoring the Trust’s commitment to environmental responsibility and future-focused healthcare infrastructure. Delivered by Integrated Health Projects (IHP), a joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine, and designed by AHR Architects, the Women & Children’s Building scheme achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, reflecting a commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability.

Working in close collaboration with the project team, Waterman’s building services specialists provided the mechanical and electrical design for the new building through the P23 procurement route, and were instrumental in supporting the drive to achieve NZCBS status.

To further minimise environmental impact, a 400 sqm photovoltaic array contributes to a reduced carbon footprint and supports the hospital’s long-term sustainability goals. The building is fully mechanically ventilated to maintain optimum air quality and comfort, while a comprehensive Building Management System (BMS) enables intelligent monitoring and control of all environmental systems. Together, these elements reflect a strong commitment to sustainability, operational reliability, and modern healthcare standards.

The NZC Building Standard forms a key part of the NHS’s broader ambition to become the world’s first Net Zero national health service. By meeting this standard, the Countess of Chester Hospital’s new facility demonstrates how modern healthcare buildings can be both high-performing and environmentally conscious.