Durham Academy reaches steel signing phase
Having secured the contract from the Department of Education in October, Willmott Dixon has reached the milestone in the £21m redevelopment of the school.
Part of the School Rebuilding Programme, £20.7m has been allocated for the demolition of two of the school’s five buildings, the construction of a new 38,000 sq ft, three-storey teaching block, sports pitches, landscaping, footpaths, and the partial refurbishment of the remaining original buildings.
The new secondary school will accommodate 500 pupils from November 2026, with full completion estimated for August 2027.
Designed by Space Group Architects, the wider project team includes landscape architect Oobe, planning consultant DPP, civil engineer BGP, and Apex Acoustics.
The existing school will remain operational throughout the build and be demolished once the new building opens.
Nick Corrigan, Willmott Dixon’s director in the North East, said: “The new facility will provide a modern, sustainable learning environment
designed to serve the community for generations to come.
“We are committed to creating opportunities for local people throughout the construction phase, working with New College Durham on T-level placements and delivering our Building Lives Academy programme to support pupils facing barriers to education.”
