City of Bristol College Animal Welfare Facility

John Perkins Construction was appointed to deliver a two-phase project at City of Bristol College’s South Bristol Skills Academy, providing new purpose-built facilities to support the college’s animal care and education programmes.

The project was designed to enhance the college’s ability to deliver practical, hands-on learning for students pursuing careers in animal care, conservation and welfare. Through a carefully planned programme of works, the project created a range of new enclosures and teaching facilities that prioritise animal welfare, safety and long-term durability, while also supporting an engaging learning environment for students.

The first phase of the project (£543k) focused on the creation of new outdoor animal enclosures and improvements to the surrounding infrastructure.

Works included the construction of new accommodation for goats, birds and rabbits, alongside the renewal of existing hard landscaping within the animal care area. New ground-bearing slabs, pathways, fencing and purpose-built enclosure buildings were constructed to create secure and welfare-compliant environments for the animals.

Additional works were undertaken to the existing canopy area to create improved teaching and food preparation facilities, ensuring students and staff had the appropriate infrastructure to support the care and management of the animals. Associated drainage, mechanical and electrical installations were also delivered as part of this phase.

These works laid the foundations for the second phase of development (£456k) by establishing a well-organised and functional external animal care environment within the academy grounds.

Building on the success of the first phase, the second phase involved the construction of a new purpose-built Animal Welfare Facility, together with a series of specialist external animal enclosures.

The new building and associated external works were delivered within an area located to the south of the existing academy building, behind the main car park, which had previously been used for planting. The area was carefully re-landscaped to create secure, welfare-compliant enclosures while making use of existing concrete hardstanding and paved areas.

The facility provides purpose-designed accommodation for three species:

• Two separate meerkat enclosures, each including internal and external areas to allow natural behaviours and enrichment activities
• Ferret hutches, with both internal and external accommodation
• A banded armadillo enclosure, also incorporating internal and external spaces

The project also oversaw the creation of a wildlife pond and landscaped learning environment, enhancing both the habitat for animals and the educational experience for students using the facility.

Throughout the design and construction process, particular emphasis was placed on ensuring the enclosures and facilities supported the animals’ needs for exercise, enrichment and play, while also providing a safe and practical environment for students and staff.

The project was delivered through a collaborative approach between the college, the design team and specialist contractors, ensuring that both the operational requirements of the college and the welfare needs of the animals were fully considered. Throughout the project, the team worked closely with all stakeholders to respond to unforeseen site conditions and evolving project requirements. By identifying issues early and working collaboratively to resolve them, practical solutions were implemented without compromising the programme or the operational requirements of the facility. The team also supported a number of value engineering exercises to help achieve the client’s budget objectives while maintaining the quality and functionality of the finished facility.

Craig Edney, Client Project Manager, City of Bristol College, said:

“John Perkins are a truly exceptional building contractor. They are a valued partner in turning visions into reality. With skill, integrity, and dedication, they lay the groundwork not only for structures but for trust, collaboration, and lasting impact. Every project they have undertaken for the college becomes a testament to their commitment to quality, safety, and sustainability, ensuring that what they build today stands strong for generations to come.”

Dale Simpkins, Director of Estates at City of Bristol College, added:

“This has been a truly collaborative effort, and the result is an exceptional teaching and learning environment that will have a lasting impact on our students and the wider college community. The quality of the build is evident in every detail.”

The positive impact of the facility has already been recognised across the college. Following completion of the project, the new facilities were presented to the college’s governing body.

Dale continued:

“I shared a slideshow of the new facility with the governors at our recent committee meeting, and they were extremely pleased with the quality of the new facilities.”