Willmott Dixon on site with latest Liverpool schools

The contractor has started on site at two £5m special needs schools in Long Lane in Fazakerley, Liverpool.

Redbridge High Community Special School and Bank View High School will move from Sherwoods Lane to be co-located on the site of former allotments on Long Lane.

The two buildings will allow the support of 270 special needs pupils.

The project was designed by architect AHR, formerly Aedas.

Funding for Redbridge High School came from the Government's Priority Schools Building Programme.

Bank View is being replaced as part of the £169m Liverpool Schools Investment Programme, which is seeing 14 schools rebuilt or refurbished across the city.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: "We have to make sure that the children with the most needs get the best teaching in quality buildings. We are responding to the increase in demand by replacing old and worn out facilities with better quality buildings.

"The investment we are making will enable staff to teach pupils the full curriculum, which is hugely important to make sure they achieve their full potential."

As part of the special school places expansion, Liverpool City Council said plans will be drawn up to rebuild Aigburth High School at a cost of £5m and to spend a further £5m to relocate Millstead Primary School from Wavertree to the site of the former Campion City Learning Centre in Everton.

Willmott Dixon will also shortly start on site at the redevelopment of the Archbishop Blanch High School in Picton after it won the contract from the council in May.