GRAHAM has completed an all-through school campus in Whitecliffe, Ebbsfleet Garden City, on behalf of investor and developer Henley Camland.
Alkerden Academy, one of the largest education facilities built in Kent, was delivered in a single phase to minimise disruption to the surrounding area, with practical completion reached in August.
Kent County Council estimates that secondary school places will rise by more than 4,000 by 2030. The new academy will play a crucial role in helping to meet this growing demand.
Sitting within the newly established Whitecliffe Eastern Quarry development, the academy provides more than 2,200 places for primary and secondary pupils on an 11.1-hectare site.
The campus includes an eight-form-entry secondary school of up to five storeys and a two-form-entry, two-storey primary school. It also includes a community sports hall, sports pitches, car parking and access roads.
Operated by Aletheia Academies Trust, the building was completed with a BREEAM Excellent rating and incorporated BIM Level 2 processes throughout its construction.
The school’s completion marks a significant milestone in the wider Whitecliffe development, which is bringing forward 6,250 homes for communities across Ebbsfleet Garden City.
The c.660-acre former quarry within Ebbsfleet Garden City is being transformed into vibrant communities, incorporating three villages including Alkerden, Ashmere and Castle Hill.
Alongside the new school, Alkerden Village will include approximately 1,700 homes, a market centre with a supermarket, and a gym.
Henley Camland, a joint venture between Henley Investment Management and Camland Group, is the master developer of Whitecliffe and is delivering enabling works and supporting infrastructure to bring forward the development.
Eastern Quarry Limited (EQL), which is owned and managed by Henley Camland, appointed GRAHAM to the Alkerden Academy project as a result of its strong track record in developing education facilities.
Pat O’Hare, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said:
Rising demand for secondary school places represents a real challenge for the region and playing a part in helping EQL to meet this head on is fantastic.
When we approach a project, we look to leave a lasting impact on the communities, and we’ve done exactly that with Alkerden Academy. Our work is helping young people to access exceptional, much-needed education facilities that will serve generations of pupils for decades to come.
Adam Forster, Managing Director at Camland Developments, said:
We are delighted to be able to offer Whitecliffe residents a best-in-class education facility on their doorstep.
Alkerden Academy represents another major milestone in the delivery of Whitecliffe and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that essential community infrastructure keeps pace with the delivery of new homes.
Creating a successful new community is about far more than housing. It is about providing the schools, transport, open spaces and local facilities that allow people to put down roots and thrive. The opening of Alkerden Academy is a hugely important part of that ambition.
We are extremely proud of what has been delivered here, working alongside EQL, GRAHAM and our wider project partners, and look forward to seeing the Academy become an integral part of the Whitecliffe community for many years to come.
The consultant team supporting the delivery of the project include Academy Consulting, Lee Evans Partnership, Hoare Lea, HTS, Define and CBRE.