Kier completes sixth form academy in Bradford
· Grade II listed former Coach House and Douglas Mill building with a capacity for 880 pupils
· Phase 1 of the project opened in August 2019 with the sports hall and coach house completed in spring 2020
Kier has handed over Dixons Sixth Form Academy on Old Bowling Lane in Bradford to the Department for Education (DfE). The building has been handed over on time, with the main building handed over six weeks early, creating much-needed education facilities for the area.
The £13.3m academy for Bradford-based Multi-Academy Trust, Dixons Academies Trust was a mixture of new build and refurbishment and it is the first standalone sixth form academy for 16-18-year-olds. The Academy is located at Douglas Mill, a Grade-II Listed mill and coach house building built in the 1840s.
Dixons Sixth Form Academy will provide space for 880 pupils and have a range of state-of-the-art facilities including a new sports hall and teaching areas.
Throughout the build, the project team faced a number of challenges, including mineshafts, disproportionate collapse mitigation and also designing a dining area within a basement space.
The project has also won a Considerate Constructors Award which recognises the commitment to being considerate to the communities in which Kier works.
Phil McDowell, Regional Director for Kier Regional Building Northern, said:
“We are thrilled to hand this project back to the DfE earlier than scheduled to assist the trust in promoting the new sixth form to their potential new pupils and parents and delivering much needed extra spaces for the current pupils.
“Construction of the project was not without its challenges, specifically in the coach house which hadn’t been occupied for 20 years. However, it is testament to the project team that is has been completed to a high quality and ahead of schedule.”
Wesley Davies, Executive Principal for Dixons Sixth Form Academy, commented:
“I would like to thank Kier and the team who worked on the Dixons Sixth Form Academy project. Their commitment, professionalism and sheer hard work was exemplary. The team responded well to any school request and ensured we have a school we are all proud of. The project was not without its challenges, but these were always met with positivity, pragmatism and commitment to high quality outcomes. It has been an absolute pleasure working on this project, I wish the team and Kier every success going forward.”
Kier is currently delivering a number of schemes across Yorkshire and earlier this year, it was appointed by Bradford Council as preferred bidder to deliver one of Bradford’s biggest regeneration projects, the £21m market redevelopment programme on Darley Street. The project will provide Bradford city centre with modern market facilities and is part of a wider strategy to help support local trade and revitalise the area.