Willmott Dixon secures £20.7m Durham Academy contract
Having secured the green light for the project back in July, the Department for Education has officially awarded the work to the contractor, who has been involved from the planning stages.
Scheduled to complete by August 2027, Willmott Dixon will manage 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.
Durham Academy will replace Durham Community Business College, and will accommodate 500 pupils at the southern end of the school campus in Ushaw Moor.
Designed by Space Group Architects, the building will be constructed with Net Zero operation in mind, with features such as a steel frame.
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.
Willmott Dixon has committed to creating four new jobs through the project, as well as eight apprenticeships with its supply chain partners.
Nick Corrigan, Willmott Dixon’s director in the North East, commented: “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.”
