Swanwick Hall School – Welford Dome Free Standing Canopy Case Study

Academy Trust: Two Counties Trust
Product: Welford Dome Freestanding Canopy
Size: 18m x 6m
Frame Colour: Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016)
Installation Date: November 2023 & January 2024

Brief

Swanwick Hall School in Derbyshire have been an existing customer of Able Canopies since 2011 when we supplied and installed a 34m Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy that wrapped around one corner of their school building, to create continuous cover from the weather.

The school which was first opened in 1922 as a grammar school in what was formerly a country house, and is now run by the Two Counties Trust, contacted us again in 2023 regarding their requirements for another school canopy.

They were looking to add shade and shelter to an area within their school grounds which could be used by the children to dine outside all year round. Outdoor dining canopies are extremely popular within schools as they enable them to effectively extend their dining room capacity without the higher expense and disruption a brick-built extension causes.

The Solution

They originally wanted to cover an area of 20m x 6m so upon consultation, we suggested the Welford Dome Freestanding Canopy as this can easily cover the size required due to the unlimited length and maximum span of up to 6 metres.

The Welford Dome Freestanding Canopy can also be fitted with side and front fills to partially enclose the canopy, adding more protection from the weather including wind and driving rain. Swanwick Hall School opted for a side panel along one end of the canopy for this reason.

Due to the age of the main building, the school required planning permission and a heritage statement. Although we offer a free planning assistance service, the school decided to file the application themselves, we did however produce the drawings and specification required for the planning application including the location plan, block plan, existing elevation plan and the proposed plan. We also wrote the heritage statement which supported both applications greatly.

The Installation

Once planning had been granted, the school confirmed they wanted to go ahead with the 18m x 6m Welford Dome Freestanding Canopy as quoted with a 5mm solid polycarbonate end panel. We were therefore able to install the canopy in November 2023 yet, because the making good, drainage and tarmac flooring was being completed by an alternative contractor that was already on site completing other projects, we returned to install the end panel in January 2024 to complement their schedule.

The completed canopy was therefore ready to use in mid-January 2024, providing their pupils with a dry and sheltered area where they can enjoy their lunch throughout the whole year. This not only gives them the choice to dine outside in the fresh air, but it also frees up space within the main dining room, making it less busy and confined. A member of staff from the school commented on how it had “improved our students dining experience” and it was a “great solution to limited indoor dining space”. Which is why we do what we do, to provide you with the perfect solution to your problems.

If you are looking to achieve the same result as Swanwick Hall School and provide and airy and spacious area that is protected from the elements, contact our expert team to find out how we can help you achieve exactly that.

If you have any existing or up-coming projects similar to the project at Swanwick Hall School or a completely different design, call us on 0800 389 9072 or email: sales@ablecanopies.co.uk