Construction company Kier has been appointed by the Department of Education to deliver a new primary school in Havering, London. The two-form entry primary school will offer 462 places for students and includes a 30-place nursery as well as a special educational needs learning space for twelve pupils with autism
Ashe Construction has been appointed by Milton Keynes Council to deliver £24 million in community projects. The contract covers the creation of a new primary school and community health hub off junction 14 of the M1. The scheme is part of the the Council’s MK East development, which will include
National youth charity, OnSide has received planning approval for a new Youth Zone in Preston. The state-of-the-art youth centre will provide young people with opportunities to engage in activities and access support from skilled youth workers, helping them to develop their skills and reach their full potential. Expected to open
Net Zero Panels – launching as part of the Premier Modular Group – is driven to minimise construction’s embodied carbon through panelised solutions. Joining the Premier Group alongside Net Zero Buildings (NZB) – which focuses on delivering buildings that are net zero in operation – Net Zero Panels enables a
Leading UK and Ireland offsite manufacturer McAvoy has been awarded a £37.5m project by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver the new Orsett Heath Academy, part of the South West Essex Community Education Trust (SWECET) in Thurrock, Essex. Commissioned by the Secretary of State for Education, McAvoy has embarked
The new facility has been hailed by Dundee City Council as ‘the most important investment in the city’s future’ Jenny Gilruth MSP, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, yesterday witnessed construction work beginning on an integrated educational and community facility for the east end of Dundee. Pupils joined Ms
Cardiff City Council has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction to carry out enabling works for the rebuild of Willows High School. The enabling works will cost £3.4 million and mark the first step in the existing school being relocated and rebuilt on land off Lewis Road, Splott. The new secondary school
Work is now underway on the much-needed 420-place new primary school in Cringleford near Norwich. A ground-breaking ceremony, which traditionally marks the beginning of construction for new building projects, was attended by: Norfolk County Council, which is funding and commissioning the new school; Inspiration Trust, which will be running it;
The construction of the brand-new Woodland View School building in Waterside, Kirkintilloch, is now complete, ahead of opening its doors to pupils in August 2023. Accommodating children and young people from ages 2- 18 from across East Dunbartonshire who currently attend Campsie View and Merkland Schools, the building is designed
The main contractor for the University of Cumbria’s new Citadels campus project, Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), is hosting a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event on Tuesday 13 June to enable local suppliers and contractors to find out more about the project. Supported by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and the Construction Industry
Construction company Kier has been appointed by the Department of Education to deliver a new primary school in Havering, London. The two-form entry primary school will offer 462 places for students and includes a 30-place nursery as well as a special educational needs learning space for twelve pupils with autism and speech, language & communication needs. The new building will include teaching spaces as well as dedicated rooms for group activities and therapies. A number of the school’s facilities will also be made available for use by the local community, including the hall, studio and outdoor play areas. The design for the project includes a number of features that aim to boost sustainability such as natural light and natural ventilation, highly-insulated glass to support heat management and onsite solar panels to generate electricity. The new facility is being built for The Emmanuel School Trust, a non-profit charity that manages educational facilities in London. The school will be part of the wider Beam Park residential development, which will deliver over 3,000 new homes to the area. Commenting on the project, Richard Emmerson, Project Director at the Department for Education said: “I am pleased that building has begun on Emmanuel Community School following the design and planning stage. We are moving forward to deliver what will be a first-class facility for this new and growing community. I have worked with Kier before and I know they will do a great job on this project having also worked tirelessly to get to this stage.” Reflecting on the appointment, John Bolton, regional director at Kier Construction London & Southern, said: “We are delighted that we have been appointed by the Department for Education to build the new Emmanuel Community School. The school will play a vital role, ensuring that the new neighbourhood’s expanding population has a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment for pupils to enjoy. “We look forward to using our wealth of experience in building first-class educational facilities to deliver a modern and sustainable school that will positively impact the community for years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ashe Construction has been appointed by Milton Keynes Council to deliver £24 million in community projects. The contract covers the creation of a new primary school and community health hub off junction 14 of the M1. The scheme is part of the the Council’s MK East development, which will include the creation of 5,000 new homes. The MK East school project, located on the A509, is valued at around £14.5m, and will provide 39 nursery places and 630 primary places. The 3400sq m school will have 21 classrooms and two halls and will be of steel frame construction with brickwork and cladding. Plans for the development include provisions for the creation of a future secondary school further down the road. The sports facilities at the new school will be made available for use by the public. The community health hub is valued at around £9.5m, and will provide a range of primary care, community health and other community-based services. The 1900sq m building will accommodate a community use hall, offices, meeting rooms and children’s centre. Commenting on the plans, Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children and Families at MK Council said: “We’re excited to have taken the first major step in this process. The new school will be the first planned primary to be built in the area and we expect it to become an all-through school, providing 630 pupil places and 39 nursery places to an exciting new community. This means no stressful transitions for children as they remain there for both primary and secondary education. With an all-through school, the parents get to build a really strong relationship with the school over that period.” Reflecting on their involvement, Ian Robbins Ashe Construction’s managing director said: “We are very experienced in creating modern education and health facilities and this prestigious project will provide the focal point of a brand-new community. We are excited to be playing our part in delivering high quality facilities that will stand the test of time, for the families who will make the area their home for many years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National youth charity, OnSide has received planning approval for a new Youth Zone in Preston. The state-of-the-art youth centre will provide young people with opportunities to engage in activities and access support from skilled youth workers, helping them to develop their skills and reach their full potential. Expected to open in 2025, the Youth Zone will be located in the town centre on the corner of Crooked Lane and Tithebarn Street. Preston Youth Zone will be open to young people aged 8-19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, 7 days a week. For just £5 annual membership, plus 50p per visit, young people will have access to world class facilities including a four-court sports hall, rooftop 3G outdoor kick pitch, gym and boxing and martial arts room for sports, as well as a music room with a built-in recording studio, arts and crafts area, climbing wall, dance studio, sensory room, and mentoring kitchen. The Youth Zone will deliver skills and employability workshops in a dedicated enterprise and employability suite, as well as a wide range of programmes, services and activities. Hot, nutritious meals will be available for just £1 from the Youth Zone’s café. In addition to the incredible facilities, trained youth workers and dedicated volunteers will be available 7 days a week to offer guidance and support to help Preston’s young people to thrive. It will create a number of full and part-time jobs and many volunteering opportunities. Preston Youth Zone is being delivered by OnSide, in partnership with Preston City Council and Preston Towns Fund Board who will be contributing towards the building and running costs. In March it was confirmed that the Youth Zone will receive a grant from the DCMS’ Youth Investment Fund which means all of the building costs have now been secured and focus will turn to raising the remainder of the running costs which will come from private sector and philanthropic donations. It will join the OnSide network of 14 similar Youth Zones supporting over 50,000 young people with locations in Bolton, Blackburn, Carlisle, Wigan, Manchester, Oldham, Wolverhampton, Wirral, Chorley, Warrington, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Croydon and East Manchester. While OnSide will develop and oversee the build of the Youth Zone, once open it will be run as an independent, local charity with a private-sector-led board. Guy Topping, Preston Youth Zone Chair said: “This is an important milestone in the Preston Youth Zone journey and exciting news for young people living in Preston and beyond. Preston Youth Zone is a local, inspirational charity that will provide thousands of young people with access to activities, opportunities, and support from trusted youth workers. So much hard work has gone into getting us to this point and I want to thank everybody who has helped make this dream a reality.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Net Zero Panels – launching as part of the Premier Modular Group – is driven to minimise construction’s embodied carbon through panelised solutions. Joining the Premier Group alongside Net Zero Buildings (NZB) – which focuses on delivering buildings that are net zero in operation – Net Zero Panels enables a holistic approach to sustainability, helping clients to ensure compliance, reduce embodied carbon. Net Zero Panels will support several sectors – particularly education – as it continues to help clients gain traction towards optimal use of offsite components via a ‘kit-of-parts’. What is panelised construction? Panelised construction can be either structural – a whole building comprising of internal and external load-bearing walls, floor cassettes and a number of structural roof options – or a wrap, where external walls and a roof ‘wrap’ around a concrete or steel-framed building. To meet growing demand for panelised solutions, Premier Modular Group, the market leader in offsite construction – for capacity and capability – has launched a new division: Net Zero Panels (NZP). “NZP is designed to strike a balance between compliance and carbon reduction,” explains Dan Allison, director, NZP. “Compliance is at the heart of the approach, and we ensure extensive acoustic and structural fire testing is built into every system – along with carbon assessments – so we’re best placed to advise on the best materials for your project and their embodied carbon impact. “Using a Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) approach, with NZP, buildings can be configured from a pre-defined kit-of-parts – offering the simplicity of structured panels with all the advantages of flat-packed, volumetric building.” Designing for purpose “NZP is an integrator and distributor, which innovated X-Guard panels,” says David Harris, managing director, Premier Modular Group. “X-Guard panels are made of either timber or light-gauge steel structural elements, but we also use other materials in our kit of parts, such as glulam, hot rolled steel, modified gypsum fibreboard and precast concrete. It’s a question of what’s fit for purpose for your individual building, and it can be provided in one package. “The business has taken off so well that it’s worthy of its own division as an integral part of our group. NZP has all the agility of a start-up with all the financial stability, capacity and ESG credentials you’d expect from a long-established company.” The Department for Education and other public procurement frameworks help schools prioritise the use modern methods of construction for new buildings, which is increasing their prevalence. NZP is taking advantage of this and has already delivered the kit of parts for DfE’s first carbon pathfinder scheme at Treetops Free School in Grays in Essex. Treetops Free School – the UK’s first net zero carbon pathfinder The DfE commissioned the 3,293m2 extension to Treetops School as the government’s first zero carbon pathfinder project, which completed in August 2022. Zero carbon pathfinder projects follow a ten-point plan to achieve net zero carbon in operational energy and dramatically reduce embodied energy in their construction. NZP delivered the structural solution for Treetops, which provides full-time education and therapeutic behavioural support for 3-16 year-old pupils with special educational needs (SEN). Treetops’ building solution comprised of a hybrid, structural timber panel system with a highly insulated envelope. The NZP ‘kit-of-parts’ system included floors, external and internal walls, the primary frame for the Hall and the panelised roof solution to the entire building. “This was all made possible by our design, engineering, production, manufacturing and installation capabilities, as well as the transparent ways we collaborate with the school, main contractor and our supply chain,” says Dan Allison. “Treetops shows how green the schools of the future will be because of its net zero considerations, and it can be reconfigured as needs change.” Lawrence Sheriff School in Rugby, Warwickshire – less school more panels A long-established school – Lawrence Sheriff in Rugby, Warwickshire – needed a new facility to expand teaching capacity. It required new science classrooms and a studio, as well as a modern dining room. Completed in December 2021, the 346m2 extension needed to complement and integrate seamlessly with the heritage building and adhere to best practice in net zero construction. In this project, the main contractor built a primary hot-rolled steel frame, and NZP wrapped the structure with its highly insulated timber panel system. NZP provided a structural, closed-panel system with a factory-fitted drylined service zone and clad with cedar and airtight brick facades onsite. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading UK and Ireland offsite manufacturer McAvoy has been awarded a £37.5m project by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver the new Orsett Heath Academy, part of the South West Essex Community Education Trust (SWECET) in Thurrock, Essex. Commissioned by the Secretary of State for Education, McAvoy has embarked on the construction of a new 8,610sqm secondary school. With construction underway, the school will have the capacity for up to 1,200 pupils aged 11-16 in its 3-storey accommodation. The new secondary school will showcase innovative internal design features including a double-height dining area, spaces for students to collaborate and share ideas, and a performing arts hub. Externally, the brief includes extensive hard and soft landscaping, parking areas for cars and bicycles, outside lockers, playing fields and the installation of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA). Works started on site in May with the school due to be completed in Summer 2024. The project has been described as a “very exciting” development for children and families in Thurrock and will replace the temporary accommodation where students are currently learning with a brand new, state-of-the-art secondary school. Positioned in close proximity to the Thurrock Rugby Club and Thurrock Harriers Athletics Track, the academy is poised to strengthen its existing partnerships and will support the development of a thriving sports hub in Thurrock. The prime location will foster development pathways for pupils and the wider community at all levels. McAvoy has been at the forefront of the UK and Ireland’s offsite industry for more than 50 years, with significant experience in the education sector. It has recently delivered projects including Merstham Park School, a pioneering ‘Low Carbon Pathfinder’ project, and The Cavendish School, the world’s first International Baccalaureate special free school for Department for Education, as well as 2 SEND classroom blocks at Great Oaks School for Southampton City Council. McAvoy CEO, Ron Clarke said the awarding of the Orsett Heath Academy project reflected the confidence in offsite manufacturing as a preferred solution within the education sector. “Our team has significant experience of delivering high-quality accommodation within the education sector to demanding programmes and we are delighted to be appointed for this major project by the Department for Education. We have invested heavily in our manufacturing and delivery infrastructure in recent years with a view to securing projects of this nature where sustainability, quality and delivery within budget and programme are essential.” The new building will provide a much-needed permanent building and cater for the growing demand for secondary school places at Orsett Heath Academy. The school has a specialism in sports, the arts and a strong international approach to languages, and will remain in joint use with the interim site for educational and sports provision, creating a lasting legacy, enhancing education, sport and recreation as a ‘Thurrock Institute of Sport.’ Steve Munday, CEO of SWECET, said: “Our community, students and families have eagerly awaited this state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to continue to provide an exciting and ambitious ethos of high expectations and achievement to more students in our local area. We’re so pleased that building work is underway and would like to thank all those who have supported us in our community during this time.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The new facility has been hailed by Dundee City Council as ‘the most important investment in the city’s future’ Jenny Gilruth MSP, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, yesterday witnessed construction work beginning on an integrated educational and community facility for the east end of Dundee. Pupils joined Ms Gilruth in making symbolic footprints in wet concrete to create a mark that will become a feature at the new £100m East End Community Campus. Designed by Holmes Miller for Dundee City Council, with Robertson Construction as the main contractor, the new facility will cater for around 1800 pupils from Braeview Academy and Craigie High School and their teachers, staff, and the wider community. Local residents, pupils, staff and community organisations were consulted extensively on the design of the campus. Their input led to various changes in the design, including how departments are arranged, and the inclusion of facilities that will ensure the building can be used 365 days a year. Offering an optimum environment for learning and attainment, the new 19,500m2 campus will include a variety of teaching and informal meeting spaces, a central learning plaza, presentation spaces and specialist Additional Support Needs (ASN) areas. The design also incorporates flexible spaces such as a ‘Hellerup’ staircase where pupils and staff can relax, socialise and collaborate. Facilities that the wider community can use will include a music and drama centre, café, library, floodlit all weather pitches, a fitness suite and a dance studio. The indoor accommodation will be arranged around a central courtyard that provides an outdoor civic space for community and school events, break out and relaxation. The community campus, which is due to open in time for the new academic year in August 2025, will be built to the international ‘Passivhaus’ sustainable energy use standard, using responsibly sourced materials. Joanne Hemmings, Associate at Holmes Miller, explained: “To achieve the rigorous Passivhaus standard, we have placed sustainability right at the heart of the design, which will ensure low energy consumption both during the construction phase and throughout the life of the building. “The campus will be a compact, highly insulated building with low energy hybrid ventilation, substantial solar panels and a heating system that’s powered by air source heat pumps. A new link to a sustainable cycle and pedestrian route, plus several cycle storage facilities, will encourage active travel to and from the campus. “We’ve really enjoyed collaborating with local partners on this project, which we know will help create positive outcomes for pupils, the environment and the wider community.” Dundee City Council’s children and families convener Councillor Stewart Hunter said: “The East End Campus will be more than a school, it will be a focus for the whole community and will be accessible and inclusive. This campus will help improve the future prospects of young people while assisting the community to thrive. “It is the most important investment in the city’s future and delivery of the campus will allow us to improve educational and community facilities to help tackle significant challenges of poverty. “This is a goldenopportunity to transform educational and community facilities and replace two outdated buildings with a campus fit for the years ahead. “The design of the campus has seen pupils playing an important role on the project board. The campus will provide an inspiring educational environment carefully designed to support learning developments in the longer term.” Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Robertson Group, said: “As the first Passivhaus building in its portfolio, East End Community Campus illustrates Dundee City Council’s commitment to its communities, to education attainment and addressing climate change. “Having been a partner of choice for the Council for several years, we look forward to working with them to deliver this high-quality multi-use facility, that will cater for a centre for music and drama, sports facilities and city-wide education. This new school built to Passivhaus standard, will significantly cut emissions to the built environment, and delivers outstanding levels of energy efficiency, reducing ongoing annual operational energy costs. Throughout the build we will be working with local contractors and suppliers, wherever possible, and seeking to improve employability skills within the community through an on-site skills academy.” Design team: Holmes Miller, Atelier Ten, Sussed Sustainability, Goodson Associates, Sterry-Walters Partnership,Deanestor Main Contractor: Robertson Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cardiff City Council has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction to carry out enabling works for the rebuild of Willows High School. The enabling works will cost £3.4 million and mark the first step in the existing school being relocated and rebuilt on land off Lewis Road, Splott. The new secondary school will offer sports facilities such as a sports hall, gym, drama studio and grass pitches which will be available for public use outside school hours. Morgan Sindall Construction will be responsible for completing a number of tasks necessary for the new build. They include, installation of new utilities and relocation of existing services, excavation and groundworks as well as the demolition of existing buildings located on Portmanmor Road and at the Splott Market site. Commenting on the latest developments, Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry, said: “The enabling works associated with this project are an integral part of the development and the awarding of this contract is an exciting milestone in establishing a brand new home for Willows High School. “When complete, the new school will provide exceptional facilities, expertise and teaching opportunities for students, staff and the community, representing a significant investment in the local area.” Reflecting of their involvement, Rob Williams, Area Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “It’s a real privilege to be awarded the contract for the enabling works at Willows High School in the vibrant city of Cardiff, which will pave the way for a 900-place secondary school. “We’re very proud to play a role in the council’s investment in the next generation and the development plans for Willows High School will have a real impact on the education and future of young people in Splott and the surrounding area. “This school is a further example of our commitment to creating additional school places and improvements across Wales, ensuring children receive the best chance to reach their full potential through the environments in which they learn.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work is now underway on the much-needed 420-place new primary school in Cringleford near Norwich. A ground-breaking ceremony, which traditionally marks the beginning of construction for new building projects, was attended by: Norfolk County Council, which is funding and commissioning the new school; Inspiration Trust, which will be running it; and RG Carter which is building it. The new school is being built on land off Colney Lane on the edge of Norwich. It will be a second primary school for the growing village of Cringleford, which is due to see around 1,300 new homes built. Cllr Penny Carpenter, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “It’s really exciting to see work starting, it demonstrates the council’s commitment to making sure there are the right number of school places so children can go to school in their local communities.” Cllr David Bills, local member for the county council’s Humbleyard division, said: “I know local residents will be pleased to see that the project to make this new school a reality is underway, enabling more children in this growing community to go to school close to home.” Mario Rackham, Director and General Manager at R G Carter, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been appointed to deliver this much-needed school for the local community and to have hosted this celebration to mark the start of its construction. “We have extensive experience in providing high-quality educational facilities across the region and are looking forward to working in partnership with Inspiration Trust and Norfolk County Council Children’s Services to deliver this exciting new project in Cringleford.” Gareth Stevens, Chief Executive Officer of Inspiration Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the opportunity to open a new free school in Cringleford and it was wonderful to see the building works underway. “We have a clear mission across all our schools – to provide the children of our county with the best possible education and being able to open this new free school in Cringleford will enable us to expand further on this, improving outcomes for even more children and setting them up to succeed in the next stage of their education.” The new school will be two storeys with car parking for staff and visitors, including electric charging spaces, and external hard and soft surfaced outdoor play areas. Its design and layout has been carefully done to reduce net carbon in the operational energy demands of the school and respects the local area and new housing. The new building would have solar panels, passive stack natural ventilation, air source heat pumps and an all-electric kitchen. The school is due to open in September next year. It is one of a proposed 26 new schools proposed for the county within the next 10 years as part of Norfolk County Council’s £308 million Local Growth and Investment Plan to ensure sufficient places in areas of major planned housing growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The construction of the brand-new Woodland View School building in Waterside, Kirkintilloch, is now complete, ahead of opening its doors to pupils in August 2023. Accommodating children and young people from ages 2- 18 from across East Dunbartonshire who currently attend Campsie View and Merkland Schools, the building is designed to be both practical and stimulating for pupils who have a broad range of additional support needs. Council Leader Gordan Low joined Head Teacher Kay Hunter and pupils from both schools to receive the keys from contractors McLaughlin & Harvey and to have their first glimpse inside the custom-built development. Councillor Low said, “After having my first tour inside Woodland View School, I am confident this purpose-built place of learning will well serve the needs of the 200 pupils from Merkland and Campsie View Schools who will start attending here in the August term. “Our contractors have delivered a school built to a very high standard, that boasts plenty of open spaces and a sensory trail leading from the ground floor to the first floor. Both indoors and out, the school is undoubtedly a welcoming and comfortable learning environment for our children and young people with modern décor and fittings.” Head Teacher Kay Hunter, added, “It was very exciting to see inside our new school – the building is absolutely fantastic! It has been designed to meet the needs of all of our pupils; from extra wide lifts to an accessible walkway, connecting the ground and first floor. “There is so much light and space, with lots of access for outdoor learning. The use of natural materials contributes to the creation of a happy and nurturing environment throughout. Outdoors we have beautifully landscaped gardens and courtyard areas as well as a super Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). I am sure all our children and young people, and our parents and carers, will be absolutely thrilled with it.” Chris Boyle, Scape Framework Director at McLaughlin & Harvey, commented: “We are delighted to hand over the new Woodland View school to East Dunbartonshire Council. We have enjoyed working in collaboration with the Council, the two merged schools and the community to create a bespoke learning environment that will enhance the lives of so many young people in the area. “The project was delivered using the Scape framework to maximise the economic benefit to the local community. This has included using local labour and supporting community groups and individuals in Waterside, Kirkintilloch and East Dunbartonshire.” Ms Hunter added, “Over the coming weeks, all pupils from Merkland and Campsie View Schools will come along to see the new accommodation, to help prepare them for the move in August. I can’t wait to see the excitement on their faces.” Whilst the school building and playground areas are complete, work continues on the community area which consists of a full-size football pitch and biodiversity planting. It is anticipated these works will be finished in the coming months The £34.9m Woodland View School is being delivered by the Council in partnership with Scape and main contractor, McLaughlin & Harvey. The architects are Norr. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The main contractor for the University of Cumbria’s new Citadels campus project, Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), is hosting a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event on Tuesday 13 June to enable local suppliers and contractors to find out more about the project. Supported by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the SRM project team will be on hand during the event which is being held at the Carlisle Station Hotel between 9am-2pm. Planning permission for the new campus development, which will be delivered in two phases, was granted in August 2022. The new campus is on track to open in August 2026 and prebuild site investigations for phase one will begin later this year. Partner discussions are ongoing to explore how to deliver best value for money for the c£78m first stage of the development, particularly to maximise the amount (and utility) of space which can be built and refurbished as part of the full campus design plans. The first phase includes the development of a gateway building on English Street as the main entrance to the university campus and a new teaching block, along with the repurposing of the Woolworths and Burton’s buildings. Phase One development will also include external works, car parking around the development and the introduction of an amphitheatrical courtyard area. SRM are keen to meet with local suppliers and contractors to discuss the exciting collaboration opportunities related to the project and SRM Project Manager, Mark Robson said: “Given the phased nature of the project, combining elements of new build, refurbishment and works to heritage structures, there are many opportunities to take part in this exciting scheme and we would emphasise it is particularly relevant to small and medium enterprises across a variety of trades. “As a leading contractor we work closely with our supply chain partners to develop skills and competencies, building strong relationships for the long term, and we are keen to work with small and medium enterprises aligned with our inclusive values, willing to make a positive impact on the local communities and environment.” Following the opening of phase one in August 2026, the university’s Fusehill Street campus will remain in operation for a period to be determined, as well as providing the first home to the Cumbria School of Medicine. Due to open in 2025, the graduate entry medical school being developed in partnership with Imperial College London aims to encourage more doctors to stay and work in Cumbria. University of Cumbria vice chancellor, Professor Julie Mennell DL said: “A truly transformational project, the new Citadels campus will increase the accessibility, reach and impact of our academic offer and stimulate greater vibrancy, footfall and investment in our city. “As with any project of this size and type, there are always challenges and issues to deal with, exacerbated most recently by inflationary pressures. “The new Citadels Campus is just one part of the successful delivery of our Towards 2030 Strategy, ambition and objectives and we are keen to fully develop the site in the longer term.” The first stage of the project is being enabled through funding secured from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal (£50million), Carlisle Town Deal Fund (£5million) and university funding.
