The new school will replace the current Durham Community Business College in County Durham
The Durham Academy redevelopment is scheduled to be completed by August 2027, and will be built on a brownfield site on the existing campus at Ushaw Moor.
The project will see a 3,538 sq m school with three storeys built, capable of accommodating 500 pupils.
Space Group architects are designing the Durham Academy redevelopment
General and specialist teaching spaces are part of the design, along with the existing sports hall and dining areas being refurbished. New sports pitches, landscaping, and footpaths will be built in.
The school is also being designed with net-zero operation in mind, with sustainable design features and a steel frame construction being prominent features.
The existing school will still be operational while the new facilities are being built, and the old buildings will only be demolished once the new buildings are operational, ensuring students education will not be disrupted.
Willmott Dixon secured the project through the Department for Education’s Construction Framework High Calue Band Lot 1 & 2.
Nick Corrigan, Willmott Dixon’s director in the North East, said: “We are excited to be delivering this transformative educational facility for Durham Academy. It represents a significant investment in the future of education in County Durham, creating a modern, sustainable facility that will serve the community for generations to come.”
Willmott Dixon is also employing its ‘Building Lives Academy’ initiative in this project, offering guidance and skills for local students facing fewer educational opportunities, and offering construction as a career pathway.
Willmott Dixon has several infrastructure projects
In September, Willmott Dixon secured a contract for a £30.5m custody suite for Derbyshire Constabulary in Chesterfield.
The custody suite will also be three storeys, spanning 4,732 sq m and featuring 36 custody cells, staff accommodation, external works, drainage, and parking.
This contract was secured through the SCAPE Construction framework, and work has already begun with a targeted finish date in June 2027.
Assistant chief officer Andrew Price at Derbyshire Constabulary said: “This new custody suite represents a significant investment in our operational capabilities. The modern facility will provide our officers with the modern and fit-for-purpose working environment they need to serve the communities of Derbyshire effectively.”
Michelle Cotterill, project director at Willmott Dixon, added: “We are proud to be working with Derbyshire Constabulary to deliver this critical infrastructure. As a company with extensive experience in law-and-order projects, we understand the unique requirements of custody facilities and the importance of creating environments that support both operational efficiency and officer wellbeing.”
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