Contractor Clegg Construction has begun work to deliver a new primary school near Burton upon Trent.

Drakelow Primary School will be part of a 2,200-home residential estate currently under construction by Countryside Partnerships on the former Drakelow power station site.

The 420-pupil primary school, being built on Marley Way, has been designed to be flexible in use and meet a range of requirements. Both the indoor and outdoor areas will maximise the learning experience, with classrooms flowing onto outdoor teaching spaces to allow for integration of inside and outside teaching, linking to the main play area. New sports facilities, including a 3G pitch, will be included, as well as a habitat area to provide forest school experiences.

The scheme will also feature a 26-place nursery and a 45-space staff car park.

Drakelow Primary School is the latest in a long line of educational establishments to be delivered by Clegg Construction and is due for completion by the end of 2025.

Designed by multi-disciplinary consultants ONE Creative environments, working closely with Clegg Construction, the school is sustainably located at the heart of the housing development, and adjacent to the forthcoming local centre, where parking will be provided in the future.

The building’s heating capacity will be met by externally mounted air source heat pumps and the school will benefit from underfloor heating fed from a low-temperature hot water system from the central heat pump plant.

Michael Sims, managing director at Clegg Construction, said: “We are very pleased to have started on site to deliver this new primary school in South Derbyshire which will serve the community currently being developed on the site of the former Drakelow Power Station."

“Drakelow Primary School is a welcome addition to our strong portfolio of design and build schemes delivered across the education sector, and we are delighted to be part of the team appointed to create this important addition to the local community.”

Clegg Construction has recently completed a £13m expansion project at Carlton le Willows Academy in Gedling, Nottingham – a multi-phase project that was highly commended in the regional LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Awards.

Educational construction projects currently being delivered by the company include a £13.5m Centre for Green Technology at Peterborough College and a £8.8m Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange at West Nottinghamshire College.

During the development of Drakelow Primary School, the project will be registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme and follow the CCS Code of Practice (Care for the Environment, Protect the Workforce, Respect the Community). Clegg Construction will also identify opportunities to engage with and enhance the local community and environment throughout its time on site.

Plans are in place to minimise the impact of building work on those who already live in the area as well as newcomers moving into the new estate over the coming months; critical to this will be regular communication with the contractor leading the construction of the new homes

Michael Moore, operations director at Countryside Partnerships, said: “Having worked together to develop the reserved matters application for Drakelow Primary School, we are pleased to now appoint Clegg Construction for the delivery phase of this exciting project."

“The new building will be a valuable addition to the Drakelow development, providing a modern, sustainable and attractive environment in which students can learn and thrive.”

Becki Smith, Associate Director - architect and education lead at ONE Creative environments (ONE) said: “We are delighted that work has started on site for the new Drakelow Primary School."

“Working closely with the Academy Trust, South Derbyshire District Council, Clegg Construction and Countryside Partnerships, we have designed the school to maximise the potential of the indoor and outdoor spaces to support a range of teaching opportunities, as well as support the community. Flexibility has been built into the design to meet the school’s requirements now and in the future to provide the best possible learning experiences.”

ONE Creative environments (ONE) has provided: architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, civil and structural engineering and building services (mechanical and electrical engineering) for the new school and will work closely with Clegg Construction and Countryside Partnerships during the construction process.

With its headquarters in The Lace Market, Nottingham, Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects.

The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialities across a range of different sectors.

For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk.

Further details about ONE Creative environments (ONE) are available here: www.oneltd.com