Wates has been selected as the preferred bidder to build a new secondary school building in Haverhill, Suffolk.

The company is scheduled to begin construction on the new building at Samuel Ward Academy in March 2018.

Once finished, any buildings that have been replaced will be demolished and the entire project is scheduled for completion in autumn 2019

The scheme is the first of five proposed projects that Wates will deliver across Suffolk under Phase 2 of the Education and Skills Funding Agency's (ESFA) Priority School Building Programme 2.


In addition, Wates has been selected to build a new school building for Brakenhale Academy in Bracknell and previously built 19 schools under the first phase of the Priority School Building Programme.

Final confirmation of Wates' appointment is expected early next year.

Ian Vickers, Business Unit Director, Wates Construction Home Counties, said: "Our team has developed an impressive pedigree in the education sector, having built over £200m of new schools across the region in the last five years.

"This demonstrates our suitability to deliver first class teaching environments for the Education and Skills Funding Agency, and our recent selection as preferred bidders on these two projects further reflects our deserved status as one of the best school building contractors in the country."

(LM/MH)