Medway Council has announced the appointment of BAM Construction to design and build Medway's three new academy schools.

The combined contract value is approximately £80 million. It builds on the contractor's strong position in the area and in the education sector.

As its preferred bidder, BAM will build all three of Medway's academies - Strood Academy, Bishop of Rochester Academy and Brompton Academy - following the Council’s extensive selection process.

The first new building will be for Strood Academy, which opened in September 2009. The academy, which specialises in business, enterprise and mathematics, will benefit from a £29million development that, subject to full planning permission, will include a new sixth form and a vocational centre designed to provide a variety of vocational courses to both pupils and the community, called the Inspiration Centre.

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The Council will be working closely with BAM Construction and Strood Academy over the next few months as the detailed design phase begins and building is expected to start on site during spring 2011.

The build will also include new and improved sports facilities for the academy, which will be available for the community to use.

Designs for Bishop of Rochester Academy in Chatham will be developed from late 2010 with completion of the new build expected in summer 2013. Brompton Academy in Gillingham will be designed from spring 2011, following on from the other two design stages, and is hoped to be completed in summer 2013.

Rod Stiles, Construction Director at BAM, said: "BAM is delighted to be working with Medway to deliver the new academies. We have enjoyed engaging with the teachers and students from Strood Academy, the Sponsors and the Council to get this far. We look forward to forging a great partnership that will deliver three outstanding academies for students and the surrounding communities."

(CD/KMcA)