Vertical bar metal railings installed at Windy Arbor Primary in Solihull

The Windy Arbor Primary School in Solihull has undergone refurbishment, and vertical bar metal railings manufactured and installed by Alpha Rail have helped transform the appearance of the school.

The school, which is located east of Chelmsley Wood town centre between the M6 and the A452 Chester Road, was identified as one of the schools to undergo an extensive remodelling programme as part of the £70m North Solihull Primary Programme Strategic Plan. The programme intends to replace 15 Junior and Infant schools with 10 newly built or remodelled primary schools which will include ‘fully integrated’ extended services for children and young families across the community.

The North Solihull Partnership (NSP) is overseeing the delivery of this programme alongside and on behalf of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC). The strategic plan is part of the councils’ commitment to leading a programme of change focused upon improving educational standards within the council wards of Smith’s Wood, Kingshurst and Fordbridge, and Chelmsley Wood and part of the Bickenhill Ward.

The main contractor on this project was Interclass PLC, who appointed Alpha Rail as a sub contractor to supply metal work. The architectural drawings included the requirement for boundary railings and entrance gates to be installed around the perimeter of the school site and ‘Alpha Rail railings or equivalent’ had been specified.

In total, Alpha Rail installed 60 linear metres of 1800mm high decorative vertical bar metal railings along the East and West boundaries of the school running adjacent to Chester Road and Brook Farm Walk. These railings were supplied hot dip galvanised and polyester powder coated RAL 5021 turquoise. Further bespoke decorative effects included diamond shapes at the top the vertical bars and ball top finials.

We also manufactured a double leaf entrance gate and two further single leaf pedestrian access gates which were supplied polyester powder coated RAL 4005 Purple. The gates enabled safe pedestrian access in and out of the school and ensured access was restricted to authorised users.

Commenting on behalf of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Chartered Landscape Architect, Sal Bridges said, “From the outset, Alpha Rail worked closely with SMBC to develop the Landscape Architects designs into a reality. They demonstrated their expertise in providing site surveys, production drawings, and workable fencing product. The feedback on the quality of the metalwork and Alpha Rail’s service quality has been very positive.”

To view other projects where vertical bar metal railings have been installed please visit our Projects Library.