Detailed plans for the proposed £20 million Ormiston Bushfield
Academy will be submitted by contractor Kier to Peterborough City
Council’s planning team at Stuart House, St John’s Street,
Peterborough, on Friday 28 May 2010 at 11.45 am for 12 noon.
Once the plans have been checked by planning officers they will
be scrutinised by the city council’s planning and environmental
protection committee in the next couple of months. If approved,
Kier intends to commence work on site in the autumn.
“This is an exciting milestone for the future of secondary
education and for regeneration in the south of Peterborough,” said
Councillor John Holdich, cabinet member for education, skills and
university. “We have already consulted with parents and local
residents about the plans and further consultation will continue
throughout the development programme.
“When the new academy premises open local students will benefit
from some of the best learning environments in the country. These
state-of-the-art buildings will enable the academy to attract the
best teaching talent to the city.
“In addition, all our secondary schools are working on a
far-reaching ‘strategy for change’ that focuses on helping students
achieve improved academic results.”
Kier Education principal director Neil Pates said: “We have
listened to the views of teachers and students in developing our
plans and we believe the new facilities will become beacons of
learning. The student-centred designs will ensure that the pupils
gain maximum benefit from the combined commitment of the local
authority, sponsors and Kier to deliver the very best learning
environment for the community they serve.”
Students were encouraged to develop user-friendly design
features for the academy plans through participation in an
initiative managed by the London-based Sorrell Foundation.
Ormiston Bushfield Academy – established in September 2009 –
currently occupies the premises of the former Bushfield Community
College, which opened in 1978. The new buildings will allow student
numbers to increase from 700 currently to 950.
Kier was selected as preferred bidder for the design and build
contract for the Ormiston Bushfield Academy project after being
shortlisted from six contractors on a pre-approved government list.
It is also likely to be awarded contracts for a £40 million
reconstruction of Stanground College and £20 million improvements
to Orton Longueville School. These latter projects are expected to
begin in autumn 2011 for completion in summer 2013.
The three projects – primarily funded by the national academies
and Building Schools for the Future programmes – will mean that all
Peterborough’s secondary schools have benefited from multi-million
pound reconstruction, expansion and improvement schemes since
2005.
Ends