GRAHAM has secured an £80m ($103.45m) contract to construct the new education hub, Alkerden Academy, in Ebbsfleet Garden City, Kent, UK.
The project has been commissioned by Eastern Quarry Limited, a joint venture between Henley Investment Management and Camland Developments.
The educational facility is located on a site spanning over 11.1ha and will offer more than 2,200 places for primary and secondary school students.
Henley Investment Management CEO Ian Rickwood said: “We are on-site and delivering this all-through school, putting in place vital infrastructure and amenities, to support local residents and new communities that will make Whitecliffe their home. Working with our partners we are bringing forward new villages and facilitating the delivery of 6,250 homes in Ebbsfleet Garden City.”
Alkerden Academy, part of the Whitecliffe Eastern Quarry Development, is being designed as an all-through school and will include an eight-form entry secondary school, which will stand up to five storeys high, and a two-form entry two-storey primary school.
The campus will also feature a community sports hall, sports pitches, and necessary infrastructure such as car parks and access roads.
Construction has already commenced, with an aim to complete the project by July 2026, proceeding in a single phase to ensure minimal disruption.
The design of Alkerden Academy is in line with the environmental standards, targeting a high Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating and incorporating building information modelling Level 2.
GRAHAM regional director Pat O’Hare said: “Alkerden Academy is a key component of the Whitecliffe development, providing significant educational and recreational benefits to the Ebbsfleet Valley community. Our team is dedicated to delivering a facility that not only meets the highest standards of sustainability but also provides an enriching environment for students and the community.
"This project demonstrates our capability to manage complex developments, and we look forward to working closely with Eastern Quarry Limited and the consultancy team to bring this vision to fruition.”
Last month, GRAHAM began construction on Belfast's first Passivhaus-certified student accommodation on Dublin Road, Northern Ireland, a project initiated by Queen's University Belfast.
