Nick Baker Architects were requested by the Governors of Christ Church New Malden Primary School, to put together a design to replace their structurally deficient Junior School. NBA were subsequently appointed to both attain planning approval and submit the project for tender in 16 weeks. The accelerated programme was successfully completed. Considered by the Royal Borough of Kingston as a major application, significant levels of consultation with councillors, planning officers, parents, teachers, governors and residents were required. The task was made more complex by the restriction of government funding, by 15%, from guideline levels, for a project of this scale. Unofficially known as ‘austerity buildings’, the product of the nation’s difficult economic times. Despite the restrictive circumstances, compounded by the project’s sub-urban residential location, the resulting design enables efficient and effective circulation between classrooms and non-teaching areas over two floors. Classroom sizes have also been retained, to the recommended space standards, despite reduced funding and an innovative use of space has been required to maximise storage throughout the school. With a raft of sustainable features such as solar panels, air source heat pumps and Passivhaus levels of insulation, the building will achieve BREEAM ‘Very Good’ standards.