Eco-school plans get green light

Plans for an eco-friendly primary school in Belper in Derbyshire have been given the go-ahead.

A £4.2m building will be put up to replace the current Herbert Strutt Primary School.

The new school will be built on part of the plot of the former Parks secondary school, off Bargate Road.

Features will include photovoltaic panels on the roof to convert daylight into electricity as well as plans for a wind turbine to generate more power.

'Invaluable aids'

It is hoped the panels and the wind turbine will produce enough electricity to power the school's heating system, with any excess being sold to the National Grid.

A geothermal heat pump is also being installed to generate energy by using heat from bore holes below ground.

This energy will be used for the school's underfloor heating system.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for school planning and support, said: "At the moment, pupils are in a building that is not suited to modern school needs.

"The renewable energy sources will be an invaluable teaching aid. We will be installing a display panel in the main entrance so pupils can monitor information about the amount of electricity and energy being produced," he said.

It is hoped construction will begin in March and the project should be completed by February 2008.