The project forms the next phase of developer Urban&Civic’s Alconbury Weald project which currently include homes, a primary school, community facilities, green spaces, play areas and over one million square foot of business space.

In total the development will comprise 5,000 new homes, health centre and retail hub, sustainable transport links, and over 500 acres of green space, including a country park.

Phase 1 of the Alconbury Education Hub comprises the construction of a 600-place secondary school, a 300-place sixth formand 130-place special free school.

The schools are scheduled to open from September 2023/2024.

The site is located in the centre of the overall development, and will lie at the end of a new park which will transform the old runway of the former Cold War airfield.

The Campus buildings will form an important landmark, and sit adjacent to a civic square, which will connect the schools to the wider community.

Morgan Sindall Construction previously delivered the £8.9m Ermine Street Church Academy in 2016, which was the first school to open as part of the Alconbury Weald development.

Jamie Shearman, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “It’s fantastic to have been selected as preferred bidder to deliver the first phase of this significant investment for Cambridgeshire County Council.

“Urban&Civic’s plans for Alconbury Weald promise to transform the area into a vibrant new community hub and the education campus will have pride of place at the heart of the project.

“Morgan Sindall Construction is a highly experienced delivery partner for transformational education projects such as this and we’re looking forward to having the opportunity to build on our experience in the sector to provide this much-needed resource for the local community.”

Alconbury Education Campus Project team:

• M&E: Couch Perry Wilkes
• Lead architect: Atkins Global
• Civil and Structural: Atkins Global
• Planning: Barton Willmore
• Design consultant on façade: perpendicular Architecture