'Eco-school' opened just THREE years ago Dartington Primary School's new £7million eco-building opened in 2010 But Devon County Council says it began leaking water shortly after opening Pupils will have to be taught in temporary buildings on the school's playing fields while 'significant' repairs are carried out Local authority may now sue architectural firm White Design over the fault Pupils at an 'eco-school' will have to be taught in temporary accommodation because the three-year-old 'environmentally-friendly' building which cost £7million to construct is leaking. Dartington Primary School near Totnes in Devon was opened to great fanfare three years ago as one of the first 'zero-carbon' teaching facilities in the country. The building's architects even won a prestigious international design award for their creation of 'one of the greenest schools in Britain'. But now Devon County Council may sue architectural firm White Design because the building is leaking so badly the school's 320 pupils can no longer be taught inside it. 'One of the greenest schools in Britain': Dartington Primary School's eco-building, near Totnes in Devon, needs 'significant' repairs just three years after opening because it has been leaking water A report commissioned by the council blames the design and highlights 'complexities within the rainwater harvesting system'. The report said: 'Following the receipt of the technical specialists" report and after taking legal advice, Devon County Council has put the design practice and its insurers on notice of a potential claim.' The school has four separate clusters of buildings which are constructed from pre-fabricated sustainable timber panels. They are insulated with natural wood fibre and clad in locally grown sweet chestnut. The under-floor heating is provided by air source heat pumps with ventilation via a heat recovery system. The school's design was commended in the national Civic Trust Awards to celebrate outstanding new buildings, bridges, public spaces and public art in 2011. In commending the school, thisisdevon reported the awards team as saying: 'Dartington Primary School and Nursery is a well detailed, bright and open building with a simple palette of materials which sits well in the rural landscape, whilst having a distinctive presence. Costly: The school's 320 pupils will be taught in temporary buildings which will be set up in the playing fields Open clusters providing clear links to the landscape, with transparent sustainability accessible to the pupils, is well thought through and successful. The construction and seasonal life of the building is a constant source of education and answers a need within the local community for a new school, whilst meeting their aspirations in terms of sustainability and educational concept. Speaking shortly after the school opened, project architect Andrew Docherty told bdonline: 'In terms of materials and construction it must be one of the greenest schools in the UK. It's all made from timber products. The building fabric is as green as you could make it. But the council report says the building started letting in water shortly after it was finished, and that 'significant' repairs are now needed. Temporary buildings will be set up on the school's playing field and the work could take up to two years. White Design said is was aware of the problem and is working with the council to establish the cause and resolve it. Legal case: Devon County Council said it might sue the architects of the £7m Dartington Primary School