Contractor chosen for £40m North West schools hat-trick

Contractor BAM Construction North West is set to deliver three schools in the region under an agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the multi-academy Laurus Trust.

Following a competitive tender through the ESFA’s national contractors’ framework, Salford-based BAM will build Cheadle Hulme Primary School, Didsbury High School and Laurus Cheadle Hulme, a secondary school.

Combined, the three schemes are valued at over £40m.

Work is already underway on the sites in Cheadle Hulme, which are due for full completion in February 2019 but will open from September next year.

Architecture group IBI is the design partner for the projects. Mott MacDonald has been tasked with providing civil and structural engineering services, Ramboll with building services engineering and Spacezero with the fixtures, fittings and furniture.

A planning application for the Didsbury site is due to be submitted before Christmas.

Subject to planning, work will start around May 2018 for an opening in September 2019.

Spacezero and Ramboll are again involved, this time alongside architecture practice Pozzoni and landscaping firm Dally Henderson.

Consultancy Mace is providing technical advice on the developments.

Ian Fleming, regional director at BAM Construction, said: “Education is a key market for BAM. Our track record is excellent, and our highly collaborative approach works well for schools.

“It is also a sign of great trust that the ESFA and Laurus Trust felt able to appoint us for both these schemes, showing that we have started to build the kind of understanding and confidence that drives a successful construction partnership.”