Member Article

Willmott Dixon to deliver £17m Liverpool eco-school

Willmott Dixon Construction has secured a £17m deal to build an energy efficient school in Fazakerley, Liverpool.

The new Archbishop Beck Catholic College will be constructed on the former Long Lane council depot, with funding from the Liverpool School Investment Programme.

The school will be friendly to the environment, with solar panelling, as well as a six-court sports hall, a theatre, 3D pitch, and recording and dance studios.

Construction is expected to finish in time for the school to open in September 2014, and Liverpool City Council has committed to keeping 62% of the work within the city region.

Mayor Joe Anderson said: “We are determined to make sure every child in the city gets the best possible start in life, and a good education in good surroundings is crucial.

“As Mayor, improving schools is a priority and we are also determined to make sure the construction project benefits local firms as well, so we maximise the benefits to the city.”

Cabinet member for education, Cllr Jane Corbett, added: “This is brilliant news for current and future generations of young people who will attend Archbishop Beck.

“It is part of our ambition to make sure that new schools are closely tied to the city’s regeneration and help build stronger communities.”

The school’s head teacher, Paul Dickinson, commented: “We are absolutely delighted that work has started on the school and our students are starting to see their dreams become reality.

“We have held detailed discussions with the whole community, including parents and pupils whose opinions we have sought and acted upon in terms of the design.

“The whole community of Archbishop Beck would like to thank Mayor Joe Anderson, Councillor Jane Corbett and the city council for all their efforts in making our new school a reality.

“As a school who lost out on Government funding at the last minute, we are immensely grateful for everyone’s determination to ensure our new school, with outstanding new facilities for the students and community of Archbishop Beck, is built.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .