South West Fife High School – £88m Passivhaus Secondary School Development

Project – South West Fife High School
Client – FES
Main Contractor – BAM Construction

The new £88m South West Fife High School, being delivered by hub East Central Scotland, is scheduled to open in 2026 and will replace the existing Inverkeithing High School. Built on the former Rosyth Fleet Grounds, the three-storey school will accommodate around 1,800 pupils, providing a modern, energy-efficient learning environment.

Designed to meet full Passivhaus principles, the new facility will use approximately 75% less energy than a standard UK new-build school. This ensures exceptional thermal performance, reduced heat loss, and significantly lower carbon emissions.

Gary Bushnell, CEO of hub East Central Scotland, highlighted that the school will benefit from excellent natural daylight, superior comfort levels, consistent internal temperatures, and a continuous supply of fresh air—key elements of the Passivhaus approach. These attributes also support Fife Council’s wider net-zero strategy.

Key Components

Western Insulation is delivering a full package of specialist insulation and trace-heating works including: 

 

  • Thermal insulation to ductwork, heating pipework, domestic services, and all plantrooms
  • Thermal insulation and weather protection to all AHUs and AHSPs
  • Trace heating applied to all external pipework and valves
  • Installation to meet strict Passivhaus performance requirements
  • Coordination with BAM Construction and FES on programme, quality, and service efficiency
Our Contribution
  • Heat-retention performance
  • Energy efficiency across all systems
  • Environmental compliance
  • Long-term sustainability and operational reliability
Our Say

“Western Insulation is delighted to be working once again with BAM Construction and FES on the new South West Fife High School, scheduled for completion in 2026. Our insulation package covers all internal and external thermal insulation, weather-protected AHU systems and full trace-heating integration. This ongoing project reinforces our commitment to delivering high-performance insulation solutions that reduce heat loss, improve energy efficiency and support modern Passivhaus construction standards.”