The McAvoy Group is principal contractor on the project, a specialist in offsite construction. Working on behalf of North Northamptonshire Council, The McAvoy Group will deliver a two-storey building which will accommodate 420 pupils between the ages of four and 11. The school will feature classrooms, a main hall and kitchen, along with a playground, soft play area and a dedicated children’s centre for younger pupils.
The use of Modern Methods of Construction will allow McAvoy to complete the new school building much more quickly than would be possible via traditional construction methods and, since much of the building will be completed offsite in a controlled factory environment, delays can be minimised. The project is also creating new jobs, with around 100 people employed on site at peak-construction.
Lee Barrett, Divisional Operations Director for Vistry Group and a representative of Stanton Cross Developments LLP, promoters of the Stanton Cross project, said: “As the new community at Stanton Cross continues to grow and go from strength to strength, we are delighted that construction is now underway on the new primary school. The provision of high quality community facilities such as this is absolutely key to our vision for Stanton Cross and we are looking forward to seeing the school take shape over the coming months.”
Stephen Clayton, Preconstruction Director at The McAvoy Group, said: “It’s great to get underway with the new Wellingborough Primary School – it’s a high-quality, well-designed building that will provide an excellent learning environment for pupils along with space for play and downtime. The use of offsite construction also means that we can complete the building much more quickly, while reducing disruption on and around the site.
“We’re very pleased to have been entrusted to deliver the new school – the McAvoy team benefits from a huge amount of experience in delivering education buildings, so the project is in safe hands.”
Cllr Scott Edwards, Executive Member for Children, Families, Education and Skills at North Northamptonshire Council, commented: “I’m delighted to see that steady progress is being made to bring a new school to Stanton Cross. Education is a top priority for North Northants Council so it’s fantastic that the local children of this new community will have a school to attend that is situated right on their door step.”
The new primary school has been designed to provide a stimulating educational space and complement the wider environment created by Stanton Cross Developments LLP. It will give priority to pedestrians and cyclists, ensuring the school has a safe and secure layout to encourage more environmentally-friendly methods of travel for pupils and staff alike.
To support a commitment to sustainable development at Stanton Cross, new native tree species and hedgerows will be planted on the southern and western boundary of the school and within the proposed car parking. This will help to enhance the site’s ecology and aesthetics, while naturally blending into the surrounding landscape.
Stanton Cross is a £1 billion residential-led development to the east of Wellingborough which will eventually include 3,650 new homes, alongside new leisure and retail amenities and commercial space – including offices, industrial space and a trade park. For more information about Stanton Cross, visit www.stantoncross.co.uk