Warden’s delivery of the Lea Community Primary School expansion marked a significant investment in education and community enrichment.

Commissioned by Lancashire County Council and completed over two phases, this £3.5 million project doubled the school’s intake capacity through a new four-classroom extension, as well as extensive refurbishments to the kitchen, library, and Key Stage 1 areas.

The project also delivered a new suite of state-of-the-art outdoor facilities including an all-weather playground, interactive zone, and sensory garden, enhancing physical development and inclusive learning.

Community engagement remained central throughout the two-year build. Warden’s team delivered interactive workshops with pupils during both phases, ensuring the school remained an inspiring environment for children while under construction. Another social value highlight was the creation of a new sensory garden within the school grounds featuring planters, a sandpit, weaving frame, a pathway and viewing area, delivered with the support of our supply chain.

We also supported school events including the summer fair and Christmas party with prize donations and worked closely with the school community to ensure minimal disruption while delivering long-term value.

Social value summary

Strengthening communities

Warden delivered lasting value to pupils and families by:

• Hosting two engaging school visits during Phases 1 and 2, including storytelling, safety talks, LEGO-building and interactive planning sessions with children to improve engagement and reduce disruption.
• Donating £350 in prizes to support the school’s summer fair and Christmas celebrations.
• Running construction-focused sessions as part of the school’s Inspiration Week, designed to help children explore future careers in a fun, age-appropriate way.
• Harnessing the expertise and resources of our supply chain team to create a sensory garden within the schools grounds, as well as donating leftover timber and materials for use in a school allotment project.
• Ensuring all site staff had access to Warden’s Employee Assistance Programme, offering 24/7 mental health, legal, and bereavement support throughout the project.
• Supporting an official opening event on project completion, attended by Warden staff and providing further opportunities to engage the local community.

Driving environmental responsibility

Environmental measures were built into every phase of the project:

• An air source heat pump and rooftop solar panels were installed on the extension, lowering the school’s energy use and utility bills while reducing its long-term carbon footprint.
• Warden staff followed the company’s green transport plan throughout, using hybrid or electric vehicles and car-sharing to reduce emissions from site visits.
• 30 trees and 10 bushes were planted as part of the landscaping works, regenerating green space and improving air quality for pupils and staff.

Empowering local employment and skills

Warden continued its mission to build opportunities for local people:

• 95% of employment on the project was sourced locally, exceeding the 90% target.
• A total of 16 apprentice training weeks were delivered across trades including bricklaying, plastering, painting and joinery, supporting practical skills development for the next generation of construction professionals.

Through this project, Warden aimed to show how school infrastructure can become a catalyst for broader social, environmental and educational value, benefiting the Preston community for years to come.

Warden’s delivery of public realm improvements in Gorton, Greater Manchester, also delivered a win for local school children and community groups.

Commissioned by Manchester City Council and completed in 2025, this ambitious transformation created a vibrant new public square adjacent to Gorton Market, enhancing connectivity, social inclusion, and the local economy.

The flexible public space – designed to host markets, performances, and events – has revitalised the area and encouraged year-round community use. Imaginative play features, integrated lighting, and green infrastructure have combined to create a safe, biodiverse and inviting environment.

A standout initiative as part of our social value activity was a visit to St James’ Primary School, where Warden engaged young children through interactive activities and storytelling, helping to challenge stereotypes in construction and sow the seeds of future careers.

The team also collaborated with the Gorton Men’s Sheds group, donating tools and materials to support community-led woodworking and wellbeing activities. Apprenticeship and training opportunities, sustainable transport, and wellbeing support were embedded throughout the build.

Social value summary

Strengthening communities

Warden delivered meaningful social impact through partnerships and local engagement:

• A LEGO-based construction session at St James’ Primary School engaged 15 children and challenged gender stereotypes in construction, using stories and hands-on learning.
• 42 pallets and a DeWalt drill were donated to the Gorton Men’s Sheds group, supporting their community projects including raised planters and a polytunnel.
• Tailored careers advice and support were offered to Gorton jobseekers at the local Job Centre, encouraging access to roles within Warden and beyond.
• Support was also extended to the Manchester Congolese Organisation (MACO), offering youth resources and an invitation to the public realm’s opening event.
• Warden’s Employee Assistance Programme was made available to all staff, offering 24/7 wellbeing, legal and counselling support.

Driving environmental responsibility

A range of sustainability-led actions underpinned the Gorton delivery:

• 3,520 miles were travelled using low or zero-emission vehicles, including Warden’s all-electric Mini, helping reduce carbon impact on the project.
• An additional 122 car miles were saved through car sharing and efficient transport planning.
• Over 6,000 kg of waste was successfully diverted from landfill.
• Locally sourced materials and labour supported both the economy and Warden’s green supply chain goals.

Empowering local employment and skills

Warden’s commitment to inclusive growth and learning opportunities was demonstrated through:

• Two new local jobs were created via the supply chain, surpassing the original employment target.
• Quantity surveying apprentice Tom Shepherd completed the full duration of the project, gaining real-world experience in procurement, cost tracking, and stakeholder coordination.
• Apprenticeship targets were reallocated when safety concerns prevented further placements, ensuring value was still delivered through community-focused alternatives.

Warden’s completion of the Blackpool Youth and Community Centre strived to be a benchmark in community-focused construction.

Commissioned by Blackpool Council and completed in January 2025, this state-of-the-art 3,229 sq ft facility not only replaces an outdated building but also delivers substantial social, environmental, and economic value to the Talbot and Brunswick area.

One of the standout social value initiatives from the project was working with local children to create a time capsule to be buried on the site containing items from the present day. This was aimed at engaging with children and getting them thinking about the future, as well as creating a commemorative moment for the development.

We were also thrilled to support our client’s Big Food Project, volunteering our time at two food bank shifts, and donating money we raised through on-site fundraising activity.

Social value summary

Strengthening communities

Warden actively supported youth and community engagement throughout the project with:

• A time capsule event, in collaboration with the Blackpool Boys and Girls Club, involved children placing mementos into a capsule buried on site. The initiative involved 22 staff hours, exceeding the 20-hour goal.
• Volunteers contributed to The Big Food Project, delivering two five-hour food bank shifts and on-site fundraising.
• All site staff had access to Warden’s comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, offering 24/7 wellbeing support including structured counselling and crisis intervention.

Driving environmental responsibility

Warden demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability through:

• 20 hours of litter picking were completed by site operatives.
• A Carbon Reporting Guide was developed and shared with local SMEs, reflecting 10 hours of specialist input.
• Staff travelled a combined 9,378.6 miles in low or zero-emission vehicles, supporting Warden’s green transport plan.
• A £200 donation funded the planting of four trees at the centre, aligning with biodiversity targets.

Empowering local employment and skills

Warden showed its commitment to skills development and local jobs by:

• 3.03 full-time equivalents (FTE) were achieved – exceeding the original 3.0 FTE target.
• 100% local employment was maintained, surpassing the 90% target.
• Four weeks of apprentice training were delivered across key trades including groundworks, bricklaying and quantity surveying.
• A further 45 weeks of accredited training were completed by three senior team members, significantly above the initial three-week goal.

Through our delivery of the Blackpool Youth & Community Centre, Warden has proven its dedication to leaving a legacy that extends beyond the physical structure – embedding social, economic and environmental value at every stage.

Warden has completed work on a £4.4 million project to create two state-of-the-art operating theatres and a recovery ward at Whiston Hospital in Prescot.

The complex 12-month conversion project was delivered on behalf of VINCI Facilities and Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

It involved the part conversion of a third-floor administration hub and the complete strip-out and remodeling of a floor area of around 1,100 sqm.

The converted space has enabled the creation of two level 4 operating theatres and a five-bed high-dependency recovery ward, together with associated technical and administrative support rooms.

Ian Williams, managing director at Warden Construction, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our whole project team and supply chain for delivering this project on schedule and ensuring as little disruption as possible for hospital patients, staff and visitors.

“The new operating theatres and recovery ward will have a transformative impact on patients and hospital users, something that gives all of us a great deal of comfort and sense of achievement.”

The works included significant alterations to sanitary installations and the extension of installations for medical gases and pneumatic tubes systems.

The creation of a new dedicated plant room required significant adjustment to the building facade through the removal of large-scale curtain walling installations and replacement with wrap around louvre vent systems.

Ian added: “This was a highly technical project because it involved reconfiguring lots of existing systems above occupied rooms and wards. In addition to these technical complexities, the project was logistically challenging as it was positioned directly above the main hospital entrance and throughfare.

“Our experience in handling healthcare construction and refurbishment projects like this one enabled everything to run smoothly.”

Our work on the project also included a comprehensive fixed furniture and equipment package comprising bespoke installations and new finishes applied throughout. All works were completed to meet the technical standards within the Hospital Technical Memorandum compliance guide.

Whiston Hospital opened in 2010 and is a state-of-the-art facility offering outstanding care to patients across Merseyside, Cheshire and beyond.​

Construction has started on a £2.3m project that will create new teaching spaces and improve facilities at a popular Preston primary school.

The project at Lea Community Primary School will deliver four new classrooms within a new school building and see the refurbishment of the library and staff room within the main school building.

The project, which will enable the school to double pupil numbers to over 400 in the coming years, is being delivered by Warden on behalf of ourlongstanding client Lancashire County Council through its renewed Construction Partnering Framework.

The new classrooms are due for completion in March 2025. A number of other improvements at the school, including new data and Wi-Fi connectivity and a new car park to alleviate congestion in nearby residential areas, have already been completed by Warden over the summer.

Geoff Noblett, framework manager at Warden Construction, said: “This project will further improve the school experience for both pupils and staff, as well as providing more desperately-needed school places for the local community. We’re looking forward to seeing it take shape and witnessing the positive impact it will have on the school and local area.

“We’re also proud of the other social value outcomes of this project which includes a 100% local supply chain and the employment of five apprentices on the scheme across bricklaying, joinery, plastering and painting.”

Sophie Inman, school business manager at Lea Community Primary School, added: “The new classrooms and improved school spaces are going to make a huge difference for our pupils, as well as allowing us to gradually increase the school intake in the coming years.

“It means we can provide a great start in life for even more children, by delivering our learning in a great environment.”

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council, said: “The new school spaces and classrooms at Lea Community Primary School will improve facilities for pupils and staff.

“This will have a very positive impact on the school and on the community, by enabling pupils to experience learning in improved facilities, and cater for increased demand in the area.

“We are delighted that we are able to improve education for more children across Lancashire in this way, both now and in the future.”

The scheme has been designed and engineered by Lancashire County Council’s in-house team. SWF Consulting provided drainage design services.

Photo: Google Maps

Staff from Warden have raised £6,700 for children from disadvantaged communities by taking part in the gruelling Tough Mudder challenge.

A team of 20 from Warden took part in the event which sees competitors supporting each other to complete an exhausting 10k obstacle course in Heaton Park.

The team raised the money for our 2024 Manchester charity of the year Wood Street Mission, which supports struggling families in Manchester and Salford.

The funds raised by Warden will go towards Wood Street Mission’s Smart Start campaign which provides children from struggling families with the right school uniform, ensuring children feel confident and comfortable and can achieve their full potential.

Ian Williams, our managing director and one of our 20 participants, said: “We found out about the amazing support offered by Wood Street Mission during our work on the installation of the Manchester Christmas Markets.

“We decided to make it our Manchester charity of the year for 2024 and we’ve done a number of things to support them, but this was by far the toughest. We’ve been blown away by the generous support from our friends, colleagues and customers and would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who donated and got involved in our fundraising activity throughout the year.”

Des Lynch, chief executive at Wood Street Mission, added: “Warden’s team have done an incredible job raising money that will make a life-changing difference to many families living in poverty.

“It was great to visit the team earlier in the year and see the amazing work they have been doing to drive donations; we thank them for their ongoing support.”

As well as the Tough Mudder challenge, our staff have taken part in a variety of activities to support Wood Street Mission, including a Christmas jumper fundraiser, book sale donations, and support for the Wood Street Mission Christmas Appeal.

We have also supported a number of other charities and good causes through our commitment to building social value.

If you’d like donate to our Tough Mudder fundraising for Wood Street Mission visit our JustGiving page.

Warden employees past and present came together for a celebration event marking our 70^th anniversary.

Our team gathered at the Ivory Tower venue in Preston on Friday 17 May for the event which marked seven decades since the company was founded in 1954 (see our photo gallery below).

Ian Williams, managing director of Warden, commented: “It was great to spend time with so many of our staff and their partners, as well as welcoming back some of our former and retired colleagues.

“We’re immensely proud of our heritage and what we have achieved, especially over the last few years, with our growth and diversification into new areas. Not only was it a great opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come, it was about looking to the future too and how we can continue progressing and growing our people.”

Adrian Atkinson, commercial director, added: “Ivory Tower hosted a fantastic event that enabled us to celebrate the past, present and future of Warden Construction.”

Warden is organising several events and social value initiatives will be going on throughout the year to mark the anniversary. You can read more about the history of Warden Construction in our previous article looking ahead to our anniversary.

Eagle-eyed motorsports fans caught a glimpse of the famous Warden blue and yellow as it flashed by at this month’s North West Stages – a rally event that marks the first round of the 2024 British Rally Championship.

Warden was proud to support local rally team 3AMotorsport during the event which took place on rural roads around Lancashire.

Held over the weekend of March 22^nd and 23^rd, the North West Stages featured over 130 competitors from across the UK, Ireland and even Australia, competing over 10 closed road stages in areas including Chipping, Garstang, Scorton and Lancaster.

Thousands of spectators lined the roadside during the event, all getting a chance to see the Warden branding adorning 3AMotorsport’s Mitsubishi Evo 6.

The event also gained coverage on ITV and was publicised by many well-known brands including ProTyre, M-Sport, Motorsport UK and Probite.

The North West Stages has always had a strong focus on raising money for charity and more than £250,000 has been raised throughout the history of the event. This year the event raised money for a number of local charities and environmental projects, which are due to be announced soon.

Warden has supported the North West Stages for many years, including providing operational and logistical support for the event in the past.