Star Salford Academy on track for 2023 opening
Star Salford Academy on track for 2023 opening
Construction is underway by Wates on the new Star Salford Academy, off Longshaw Drive in Little Hulton.
Wates has just begun erecting the superstructure steelwork on the six-acre site, which has been vacant since Hulton High School was demolished in 2009.
Star Salford Academy is being delivered through the four-year Department for Education (DfE) Modern Methods of Construction Framework and is part of the ongoing DfE’s Free School Programme. Star Academies, one of the country’s best-performing multi-academy trusts, will operate the school.
In total, 750 pupils will be able to study at the Sheppard Robson-designed secondary school and in addition to high-quality teaching spaces, there will also be a hard-court multi-use games area, all-weather pitch and a sports hall facility.
In total, the building will comprise 62,000 sq ft. and Wates is aiming to complete the construction works in time for the start of the 2023-2024 academic school year.
Work on the school is being delivered alongside an adjacent Seddon development of 180 new homes. Both family-owned businesses are also celebrating their 125th anniversary, and together, Seddon and Wates will be delivering a comprehensive social value plan to help regenerate the area.
It is this regeneration aspect of the project that Dave Saville, managing director of the North for Wates, sees as a fantastic opportunity for both the local community and the region longer term to benefit from the total investment being made.
This school and the adjacent housing scheme have the potential to transform the Little Hulton area. The construction industry has a huge role to play in supporting the Government’s Levelling Up agenda and regeneration projects such as this are the perfect example of where we can create opportunities, from providing more modern education environments to boosting the provision of housing for the local community.”
Dave Saville
Regional Managing Director, Wates Construction
Star Salford Academy is the eighth project Wates has taken on for Star Academies, which runs over 30 schools nationwide. Wates is further supporting the Department for Education, across the North West region, having been appointed to build a series of new school buildings that are net zero in operation. Wates is currently constructing spaces for more than 5,000 pupils across the North West.
