Nottinghamshire academy set for rebuild

Willmott Dixon has been given the go ahead from Ashfield District Council for the £38 million transformation of Outwood Academy Kirkby in Nottinghamshire.

Appointed by the Department for Education (DfE), the redevelopment will replace the existing 1970s school buildings with a modern, sustainable facility designed to accommodate 900 pupils as well as a dedicated sixth form.

Enabling works on the 6,700m² town centre site are set to begin early next year with the project due to complete in 2029.

Designed by ADP Architecture, the new academy will be powered by a combination of air source heat pumps and solar panels to reduce carbon emissions and operational costs.

Set to meet the DfE’s latest sustainability specification, the project will also deliver a 10% biodiversity net gain, providing additional habitats to benefit the local environment and wildlife.

Nick Heath, Director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Securing planning approval is an exciting milestone for Outwood Academy Kirkby. We have a strong track record of delivering sustainable schools across the country.

“Our extensive experience in the education sector makes us the ideal partner for this transformational project.”

Andy Scruby, Lead Principal at Outwood Academy Kirkby, added: “This is a key milestone in our work. In just three years, we’ve achieved external validation as a ‘Good’ school and been recognised in the top 1% nationally for school transformation. Now, we can deliver the state-of-the-art facilities our students and community deserve.”