Willmott Dixon has secured a £20.7 million contract from the Department for Education (DfE) to construct the new Durham Academy in County Durham.

The new facility will replace the existing Durham Community Business College and is set for completion by August 2027. Once finished, the three-storey, 3,538-square-metre secondary school will accommodate up to 500 pupils, providing state-of-the-art learning environments on a brownfield site at the southern end of the current campus in Ushaw Moor.

Working alongside Space Group architects, Willmott Dixon will deliver a modern school featuring both general and specialist teaching spaces, as well as a refurbished sports hall and dining facilities. The project will also include extensive external works such as sports pitches, landscaping, and new footpaths.

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The new Durham Academy has been designed to target net-zero carbon in operation, incorporating sustainable materials and energy-efficient design principles. Built using a steel frame construction, the school aligns with the DfE’s environmental and efficiency goals and was procured through the DfE Construction Framework High Value Band Lot 1 & 2.

To ensure continuity for current pupils, the existing school will remain open throughout the construction phase. Once the new building is completed, the old structure will be demolished to make way for the upgraded campus facilities.

Nick Corrigan, Willmott Dixon's Director in the North East, said: "We are excited to be delivering this transformative educational facility for Durham Academy. It represents a significant investment in the future of education in County Durham, creating a modern, sustainable facility that will serve the community for generations to come."