Work has started to create a 60-metre by 30-metre all-weather sports pitch at the Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Peterborough, the first stage in the construction of new £20.6 million premises for the school.

The one-third size pitch, suitable for seven-a-side games, will maintain all-weather sports facilities for school use when new buildings are constructed on the existing all-weather pitch starting in early March. The new pitch will be expanded to full-size later in the project.

Councillor John Holdich, Peterborough City Council's cabinet member for education, skills and university, said: "Providing an all-weather pitch at this early stage in the contract means that pupils will still enjoy the benefits of an all-weather facility while construction of the new buildings progresses."

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Academy Principal Eric Winstone added: "This is the start of an exciting project for existing and prospective pupils, their parents, staff and the whole community. We are working closely with construction company Kier on what promises to be a truly inspiring landmark building."

The start of work on the all-weather pitch was also attended by Kier Eastern managing director Graham Howe.

The new 9,713 square metre academy will accommodate 950 students, an increase from around 730 currently. The design features a curved, double height, fully glazed entrance opening on to a public plaza with a colonnade link to Orton sports centre. Once the new premises are completed in summer 2012 the existing 8,500 sq m buildings will be demolished.

Kier has already undertaken some initial ground-works to create a temporary access road and a site compound, together with preparing a new site for relocating a Peterborough City Council maintenance depot. A new footpath/cycle route will also be constructed to replace an existing route adjacent to the Bushfield sports centre.

(CD)