Contractor appointed to transform Grade II- listed radio station into £39m secondary school
Morgan Sindall Construction has been appointed to transform a historic Grade II- listed radio station into a £39m secondary school in Houlton, the new community being developed on the outskirts of Rugby.
The project has been commissioned by the site’s master developer Urban&Civic, in collaboration with Aviva Investors, Warwickshire County Council and the Department for Education, to meet the increased demand for school places from families living in Houlton’s emerging 6,200-home community.
Once complete, the new school will provide more than 1,000 pupils with a 123,100 sq ft facility.
It will be operated by Transforming Lives Educational Trust (TLET) which is responsible for a number of academies in the area.
A key element of the work is to extend the Grade II listed transmission hall of the former Rugby Radio Station which, at the height of its power in the mid-20th century, was the largest in the world. In 1927 the site transmitted the first transatlantic radio signal.
Construction work is scheduled to complete in time for the new school year in 2021.
Darren Eaton, Morgan Sindall Construction’s area commercial director in the Midlands, said: “As a business with our national headquarters in Rugby, we’re well aware of the historical significance of the site and of the expectation that the new school will be an inspiring learning environment befitting its groundbreaking heritage. Transforming a listed building into a modern secondary school with the capacity to teach 1,000 pupils is a challenging brief, but one we are ideally placed to fulfil, and we’re incredibly pleased to get work underway.”
Richard Coppell, development director for Urban&Civic, said: “The progress already made by Morgan Sindall Construction on this project is significant, especially during very challenging conditions. The transformation of this landmark building is a welcomed signal of progress and optimism for the local community who are rightly excited about the unique and inspiring school for their children, only a short stroll from home.”
