Financial close has been reached on the £120 million Yorkshire Batch of the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP).

Yorkshire Learning Partnership, a special purpose vehicle formed by Laing O'Rourke Group, Equitix and IUK Investments Limited, has been appointed to deliver the project.

The scheme involves the financing, and design and construction of seven secondary schools in the West and North Yorkshire areas.

Around 7,000 students will benefit from the programme, with the school buildings designed around double and triple height spaces for communal areas such as the halls and dining areas.

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In addition, each school will have its own standalone sports centre with integral changing facilities.

Laing O'Rourke said: "The milestone of financial close had been delayed due to a late application to award listed building status to one of the existing school buildings that was due to be demolished.

"Although FC had been delayed, the Education Funding Agency, Equitix, IUK, and Laing O'Rourke worked collaboratively together to limit the consequential effects to the construction programmes, and works have progressed under early works agreements."

The first three schools will move into the new buildings in the early part of 2017, a further three schools following in September 2017, with the largest school becoming available in the Spring of 2018.

(LM)