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Faithful+Gould appointed technical adviser on £57m Northumberland school and leisure complex

Programme management consultancy Faithful+Gould has been revealed as the technical adviser on a new multi-million pound development spearheaded by Northumberland County Council.

The firm will be working with the council on a £57m combined schools and leisure complex in Ponteland, providing technical expertise as well as acting as employer’s agent and quantity surveyor.

Forming a key part of the council’s plans to reconfigure the area’s school system from a three tier to a two tier system, the new facility will be built on the site of the current leisure centre and include integrated primary and secondary schools.

According to the council, residents will be able to access the leisure centre via the front of the new building, with students accessing the schools from the side and rear of the facility.

Lawrence Inkster, Director at Faithful+Gould argues that the development is not just a leisure centre being ‘tagged on to the back of a school’ and claimed the design will make the new building a major asset to the community.

He commented: “It’s a great piece of flexible design and the project will benefit both the children and the wider community of Ponteland.

“There is also the added advantage of the efficiencies it will bring with the centre’s facilities more likely to be used by students during week days and the public at weekends and in the evenings.”

On target for a 2019 completion, the new leisure facility will also boast a swimming pool, 500 piece gym, two 3G football pitches and a space that can be utilised for school lectures during the day and potentially a community theatre in the evening.

Steven Mason, Chief Executive of Northumberland County Council added: “The investment into the schools and leisure facilities will provide a fresh and modern learning space for pupils, providing an excellent learning environment and helping to deliver the best possible education for children across Northumberland.”

Willmott Dixon are the preferred bidders for the scheme and are expected to begin work on the site this summer.

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