Kier secures £98m pair of school rebuild contracts

Kier has secured two school redevelopment contracts worth a combined £98m, including a flagship low-carbon academy in Lancashire and the replacement of the RAAC-affected Anglo European School in Essex.

The contractor will deliver the £45m Wellfield Academy in Leyland for the Department for Education as one of its GenZero Pathfinder projects, showcasing the next generation of ultra-low carbon school buildings.

The new 6,540 sq m secondary school will feature a three-storey teaching block linked to a two-storey commons building, while retaining the existing sports hall.

Designed by Kier Design, the scheme will incorporate a cross-laminated timber frame, ground source heat pumps, solar PV panels, natural ventilation and biodiversity enhancements.

Construction is expected to complete by the end of 2028.

Kier has also signed a £53m contract to redevelop the Anglo European School in Ingatestone, Essex, after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) led to the closure of its sixth form centre in 2023.

The approved scheme includes a new three-storey school building, canopy, multi-use games area, amphitheatre, car park and extensive landscaping. The replacement school has been designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation while providing modern teaching facilities.