Brownfield site in £25m academy development
A FORMER Leeds brownfield site is being redeveloped into a £25m academy following a property deal by consultants JLL.
The Education Funding Agency (EFA) has acquired the 4.2 acre site, formerly occupied by Yorkshire Chemicals, on Black Bull Street for an undisclosed sum from Yorkshire Design Group.
Building works on the facility are due to start shortly on The Ruth Gorse Academy, which will be able to accommodate up to 1,580 pupils of 11-18 years and is set to open in September 2016.
The development of The Ruth Gorse Academy is supported by the Leeds Sustainable Development Group which sees it as a major step towards developing family living in Leeds city centre.
Henry Burton, senior consultant in JLL’s Leeds Development team, said: “This acquisition is a sign of the EFA’s continued commitment to improve the standards of education across England, providing funding to proposed schools backed by Trusts who have a proven track record in providing the highest quality education in areas of serious need.”
The Ruth Gorse Academy is the latest in a portfolio of Ofsted outstanding secondary schools run by The GORSE Academies Trust led by recently knighted Sir John Townsley.
