Ashfield District Council has granted planning approval for a £38 million redevelopment of Outwood Academy Kirkby.

The redevelopment will replace the academy's 1970s buildings with a sustainable new campus designed to accommodate 900 pupils, including a dedicated sixth form, on the 6,720-square-metre town centre site. Willmott Dixon, appointed by the Department for Education, will begin enabling works early next year, with completion expected in 2029.

Designed by ADP Architecture, the new academy will incorporate the Department for Education's latest sustainability standards, using air source heat pumps and solar panels to reduce carbon emissions and operational costs. The project will also deliver a ten per cent biodiversity net gain, creating additional habitats to support the local environment and wildlife.

-- Advertisement --

The school will feature specialist teaching spaces and enhanced sports facilities, including an all-weather pitch and multi-use games area, allowing pupils to access activities on-site rather than off-site. Purpose-built sixth form facilities will also enable students to continue their studies locally in a modern environment.

Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: "Securing planning approval is an exciting milestone for Outwood Academy Kirkby. Willmott Dixon has a strong track record of delivering sustainable schools across the country, including the UK's first Passivhaus Plus school for the London Borough of Sutton. Our extensive experience in the education sector makes us the ideal partner for this transformational project.

"Aligning the new Outwood Academy Kirkby with the DfE's latest output specification means the building is fit for the future. Much of the social value we deliver throughout the construction phase will be focused on helping prepare local students for their own future careers. We've had great successes creating sustainable schools in recent years, and it's a privilege to continue doing so with Outwood Grange Academies Trust."