£4.7m deal to build new primary school

Nov 9 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal

CONSTRUCTION company Morgan Ashurst has won a £4.7m contract to build a new primary school in Peterlee.

The company, which has local offices in Darlington and Durham, secured the Durham County Council deal to construct the school, Peterlee Eden Primary, designed by the authority’s architect.

The single-storey school, which will be located in Eden Lane, is to accommodate 390 pupils and will replace the existing Eden Community School in Robson Avenue. The project is due to be completed in August 2008.

“Durham County Council as the local authority is committed to providing a high-quality learning experience in accommodation fit for the 21st Century in fully-adaptable teaching spaces designed to open up opportunities and improve the effectiveness of teaching,” said a Durham County Council spokesperson.

“Eden Primary School will be a shining example of this commitment and will be very strongly positioned to deliver the best possible primary education for the future.

“This will enable the children and young people of Peterlee to achieve high standards of education and give them the best start in life.”

The project will see Morgan Ashurst create a 3,000m² steel-frame facility that will provide 11 classrooms, an assembly hall, sports facilities, play areas, IT suite, and Sure Start and nursery facilities.

The new school will be built using sustainable materials including cedar cladding. The design of the school includes important energy-efficient features such as underfloor heating and a grey -water collection tank.

As construction work is being undertaken during term time, Morgan Ashurst will be carrying out an extensive consultation with the school to minimise disruption to the teaching staff and pupils and ensure their safety.

Morgan Ashurst project manager Mark Kane said: “We are delighted to be building this much-needed new primary school in Peterlee.

“It is the type of construction project that we really enjoy doing because it so important to the community.”

Morgan Ashurst is a full-service construction business with more than 2,000 employees in the UK.

Working for private and public sector clients on projects from £50,000 to more than £300m, the company’s construction activities range from small works, repair and maintenance services to large-scale complex projects across the commercial, defence, education, healthcare, industrial and manufacturing sectors.