Three-storey expansion starts at Ernesford Grange Community Academy
Students at an Ernesford Grange secondary school will soon feel the benefits of a three-storey expansion after work started on the development.
Midlands-based Deeley Construction, which is headquartered in Coventry, has started work on the major £5 million extension project at Ernesford Grange Community Academy.
A steel frame structure has now been erected and work is expected to be completed on the new building by September 2022. It will be ready for students to use by the next academic year.
It will create new teaching space and classrooms, with the work at Ernesford Grange Academy resulting in around 180 new places for potential students.
Deeley Construction has been supported by Lucas Architects and the development has been funded by Coventry City Council.
The school is part of the Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust which also includes the adjoining Riverbank Academy, a SEN school.
The three-storey expansion is phase two of a project which has already seen Deeley Construction build a state-of-the-art extension for Riverbank Academy.
Steve Turner, Construction Director at Deeley Construction, said: “After the hugely successful first phase of development at the site on Princethorpe Way, we are now making great progress on the second phase.
“Deeley Construction has a proud history dating back 70 years of developing schools in Coventry and this new unit at Ernesford Grange Community Academy will help to create vital school places in this area of the city.
“The new expansion will provide high-quality educational facilities for staff and students that meet the needs of modern day education.
“Our team on site are carrying out the project with minimal disruption to the students attending the school on a day-to-day basis and we will be working with the school to provide valuable work experience opportunities on site over the course of the build.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “I’m pleased that a local company has been busy working to create a new school facility. Not only will there be some great new classrooms – there will also be theatre available for community use.
“Biodiversity and sustainability also sit at the heart of this work and the addition of a mini forest is really rather unique.”
Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “The opening of these new teaching facilities will not just be great news for the staff and students at Ernesford Grange, it will be great news for Coventry, as the young people who study in these classrooms will hopefully go on to take our city forward.
“The lessons they learn here and the sense of pride and responsibility they take in their new facilities will be building blocks for their future. I want to thank everyone for their hard work and efforts that have gone into such a fantastic project”.
