4th December 2023

South Devon College is topping off its main building with a new roof, thanks to receiving a share of the Government’s national Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, which is part of the Department of Education’s £1.5 billion capital funding to enable further education establishments to upgrade their facilities. 

The College secured funding, to the value of £2,138,899, in April 2022, to establish a programme of works on the 25-year-old roof of the Vantage Point campus in Paignton. 

The current roof, which measures over 7,000 square metres and consists of six different roofing areas, is being overlayed with a hardwearing bitumen waterproofing system, manufactured to withstand severe weather conditions, UV light and structural movement. 

There will also be an additional 100mm of insulation added, to increase the thermal properties of the roof and reduce heat loss and, therefore, energy consumption.  

The project started in August 2023, and is expected to be completed by early 2024. 

The work is being carried out by DFR Roofing Ltd, selected via a tender process with the College’s procurement team at Tenet, with health and safety being a top priority, using scaffolding protection and specialist loading platforms.  

Liam Pilkington, Contract Manager at DFR Roofing Ltd, said: “As a landmark project, it is fantastic to be leading the roof replacement works at South Devon College. Designed to address ongoing water ingress issues, and with our teams working to upgrade the majority of the building’s existing coverings, the new roof features industry-leading materials, ensuring the structure, and its occupants, are protected from the elements for the long term.  

“Working with South Devon College to ensure the new roof supports their sustainability objectives, the new roof coverings will also include a thermal upgrade, set to significantly improve overall energy efficiency, while reducing the building’s overall carbon footprint. Our teams are currently working onsite, and we look forward to sharing the results of the project soon.” 

^{From left: Alex Horder from DFR Roofing Ltd; Liam Rose from Bauder Ltd; Nick Clemens, Deputy Head of Estates and Facilities at South Devon College; and Liam Pilkington from DFR Roofing Ltd.}

The College will see huge benefits from the new roof in terms of sustainability and costings – the resulting energy savings from improved thermal insulation will ensure the College faces a sustainable existence now and in the future. During the new roof works, new solar panels will be installed (as a separately funded project), to further improve and enhance the sustainability credentials of the College. 

Laurence Frewin, Principal and CEO of South Devon College, said: “We are so pleased that the Vantage Point campus building is going to have a new energy-efficient roof, thanks to the Government funding received. It will make a huge difference to the College’s energy costs and will ensure we are moving into a more sustainable and cost-effective future.  

“We will be a few steps closer to achieving a net zero carbon footprint from the college estate by 2030, which is a very high priority goal for us.” 

Sustainable Development Goals that align with this story: