Esh’s commercial build division has commenced work to deliver the new Willow Fields Primary School in Sunderland. The £4.1m development is located in Redcar Road, Redhouse, and is due to open for the next school year in September 2021.
Alongside the new building, the Willow Fields project includes nursery provision, a multi-use games area, and a sports pitch. The new Willow Fields will also have potential to expand from the 140 places offered at the existing school site to 315 places to meet growing demand for places.
Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Learning and Skills, Councillor Louise Farthing said: “All the works here for Willow Fields, and for all our city’s schools, are about helping to ensure that we have the very best for all our young people. It’s a key priority for this City Council that there are always sufficient, suitable, high quality places for all our pupils and students.”
Designed by Sunderland City Council’s in-house Capital Projects team, Esh’s commercial build division was awarded the contract in late July 2020.
Headteacher Lindsay Robertson said: “I am familiar with the plans and the layout for our new school and it’s great news to now see the work starting. Our new Willow Fields is going to be a fabulous asset that everyone in the community can be proud of.”
Before backing the new school plans, the City Council had noted how the current school in Winslow Close would need major repair works in coming years as the building was outdated. Plus, it had limited capacity with an admission number of only 20 children in each year.
Gary Dobson, Divisional Director at Esh Construction, said: “We are delighted to build on our successful partnership with Sunderland City Council to deliver the new Willow Fields School. We have delivered over £60m of work in the education sector in the past few years alone. This is a great opportunity to expand our portfolio and provide a first-class education facility in Sunderland.”
Councillor Paul Stewart, the City Council’s Deputy Leader is Chair of the Governors at Willow Fields, he added: “On behalf of everyone at our school, we are all looking forward to state-of-the-art facilities on a new site. This is a prestigious and very welcome development.”
I am familiar with the plans and the layout for our new school and it's great news to now see the work starting. Our new Willow Fields is going to be a fabulous asset that everyone in the community can be proud of."
