Breaking ground on new £6.8 million High Wycombe Primary Academy

A special breaking-ground ceremony has been held to mark the start of work on the new £6.8 million Abbey View Primary Academy, at the former Daws Hill RAF site in High Wycombe.

The breaking-ground ceremony was hosted by Morgan Sindall Construction, which is constructing the new primary academy for Buckinghamshire County Council.

The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of High Wycombe, councillors from Buckinghamshire County Council and representatives from Inspiring Futures Partnership Trust, the multi-academy trust that will be operating the school upon its completion.

Morgan Sindall Construction has been appointed to the scheme via the Southern Construction Framework, which is available as a vehicle for public bodies in the South of England to procure major building works. The school is being constructed using an innovative, highly sustainable, off-site construction system which utilises structural insulated panels (SIPS) that enable high-quality buildings to be delivered quickly and affordably.

Mike Appleyard, Cabinet Member for Education, and Jon Mason Executive Principal for Inspiring Futures Partnership Trust welcomed the start of work during speeches at the event, before breaking-ground on the new development with a ceremonial gold spade.

Mike Appleyard said: “Growth in Buckinghamshire means we need to provide 10,000 school places over the next five years, and the 210 places provided at Abbey View, with potential to expand later, are a welcome part of this future planning, and we wish the school well.”

Abbey View Primary Academy is expected to be completed in August 2019 and will help to meet the demands of the local area’s growing population, after plans for a major housing development were approved in 2014.

The new two-storey building has the potential to offer 420 primary school places, with an additional 52 pre-school places, and will be constructed in two phases. The first phase will provide 210 primary school places and 26 pre-school places, with the second phase expansion linked to future residential developments. The project also includes external works and associated car parking for 55 cars and three motorcycles, external play areas, a multi-use games area (MUGA) and first class sports facilities.

David Rowsell, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We’re delighted to be marking the start of work on this landmark project in High Wycombe, which will be a great resource for the local community and help to meet the growing need for more school places in Buckinghamshire.
“Morgan Sindall Construction has a real wealth of experience in delivering outstanding schools and education facilities across the UK, while our commitment to social value enriches the communities where we work.
“We are proud to have been appointed to the scheme via the Southern Construction Framework and look forward to collaborating and working closely with the school community, our site neighbours, and the wider project team as we deliver the new Abbey View Primary Academy.”

Madasar Mirza, Principal at Abbey View Primary Academy, said: “We are very excited to progress into the next stage of development for our new primary academy. Abbey View will provide an outstanding learning environment and will be committed to delivering inspirational learning opportunities that are fun, purposeful and challenging”
“As well as focusing upon providing an outstanding academic education, Abbey View Primary Academy will promote the core values of respect, aspiration, integrity and resilience. The new primary academy will help create an eco-friendly sustainable learning environment, which will, boost pupils’ wellbeing and encouraging healthy lifestyles.
“We are confident that Abbey View Primary Academy will be an excellent addition to the community.”

• For more information about this news release please contact Olivia Solomon at Influential on 0151 239 5000 or email solomon@thisisinfluential.com