Willmott Dixon to build £30m Hope Academy

Willmott Dixon Construction has been named by St Helens council as preferred bidder for the proposed Hope Academy at Newton le Willows.

The project is to construct a new academy on the Newton High School site for 1,650 pupils aged 11 – 18 including a 300-student sixth form, together with car parking and playing fields.

The 140,000 sq ft building will cost £30.2m with a further £2.4m for ICT equipment. Work will start in August 2009 subject to planning approval, with completion two years later for opening in September 2011.

The academy is supported by Liverpool Anglican Diocese, RC Archdiocese of Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University.

The winning scheme will be one of the most sustainable schools in the country and include biomass boilers together with wind turbines for renewable energy generation and photo-voltaic cells. It aims to achieve the highest possible BREEAM rating.

Willmott Dixon is currently constructing the £21.5m Cowley Language College for the council.