Morgan Sindall Construction's Essex team has celebrated a significant step forward in the delivery of the new Glenwood Sixth Form.

A special ceremony was held at the South Benfleet site to mark the completion of a major construction phase for the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) facility.

The event brought together representatives from Essex County Council (ECC) and Morgan Sindall, alongside future students, staff, and local community leaders. During the proceedings, attendees—including Cllr Andrew Sheldon and Cllr Beverley Egan—signed the final open section of a wall before it was sealed for plastering.

Appointed by ECC via the ECC framework, Morgan Sindall is delivering the £6.6 million project to provide a specialised environment for 40 students. The new building will feature five classrooms, a catering training centre, a dining area, a meeting room, and dedicated sensory spaces. External works will include 109 car parking spaces—comprising seven electric vehicle charging points, three accessible bays, and eight minibus spaces—as well as play areas and landscaping.

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The structure utilises a SIPS frame with a brickwork façade to ensure high levels of insulation and airtightness. To meet sustainability goals, the facility is designed to be carbon net-zero in operation, supported by air source heat pumps and rooftop solar PV panels.

Ryan Liversage, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in Essex, said: "Reaching this milestone in the creation of South Benfleet's brand-new SEND Glenwood Sixth Form not only underlines how far it has come, but also what a rewarding project it has been to work on. Delivering specialist educational facilities requires careful consideration of the unique requirements of pupils with special educational needs and we're proud to be creating a sustainable and inspiring learning environment that will truly support their development."

The development expands upon the existing Glenwood SEN School, a £15.4 million project finished by Morgan Sindall in 2017 which serves 210 students with complex learning difficulties. The new sixth form is scheduled for completion in spring 2026.

Cllr Andrew Sheldon, Deputy Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: "We are excited and very pleased at the progress of the new Glenwood Sixth Form in South Benfleet. This will bring much-needed support for children and families of children with SEND in south Essex. This is a major milestone, and we look forward to seeing the final stages of the project come to fruition. All partners remain committed and we will continue working closely together. Essex County Council has a strong record of forecasting and delivering school places, and this investment is part of our ten-year plan to deliver 6,240 new primary school places by 2035."