The development of a new state-of-the-art leisure centre and secondary school are set to get underway in Hackney.

Morgan Sindall Construction has been selected by Hackney Council to deliver the two schemes worth a combined total of around £97.5 million.

Under a £53.8m contract, the firm will complete the new Britannia Leisure Centre and public realm improvements. This scheme will replace an outdated leisure centre with a new facility featuring a six-lane pool, six-court sports hall, four squash courts and two five-a-side pitches.

The new leisure centre's modern facilities will better meet the expectations and ambitions of existing residents, and respond to new demand from the growing population in the borough. The centre will also improve access for people with disabilities and comply with design guidance from Sport England and other governing bodies where relevant.

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It is due to be completed in spring 2021 and will be delivered by a project team including FaulknerBrown Architects and Buro Happold engineers. Project management for Hackney Council will be delivered by Hadron Consulting.

The second scheme from Morgan Sindall will see a much-needed secondary school and sixth form built with 1,140 new school places to help to meet demand in Hackney.

With a gross internal area of 12,500 sq m, the City of London Academy Shoreditch Park building will support the delivery of the whole curriculum, with excellent facilities for all subjects, including specialised spaces for ICT, science, music and drama. A new rooftop playground area will also be constructed to create a relaxing outdoor area where students will be able to play and enjoy being outside.

The project team delivering the school includes Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios architects, Buro Happold engineers, with external project management for Hackney Council being delivered by PCSG. Works on the school are due to complete in early summer 2021.

Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure has been selected on the projects via the Southern Construction Framework, which is available as a vehicle for public bodies in the South of England to procure major building works.

The projects form the first phase of Hackney Council's programme to replace an outdated leisure centre with the facilities and hundreds of new homes – including those for genuinely affordable social rent and shared ownership.

(CM/MH)