Major milestone for Ponteland schools and leisure development
25 Sep 2019 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
A major milestone in the development of brand-new learning and leisure facilities in Ponteland was reached last week - when the final ‘bolts’ were tightened in the steel frame.
Kier, a leading provider of construction and infrastructure services joined guests from Northumberland County Council, Active Northumberland, Ponteland Primary School and Ponteland High School to witness the completion of the steel frame for the new development last week.
Project partners were asked to ceremonially tighten the final bolts of the £43m project that includes building two new schools and leisure facilities which will serve Ponteland and surrounding communities.
Having passed the half-way point of the project, the completion of the structural steel frame is a major milestone in the construction of these much-anticipated facilities. With the installation of the precast concrete components also complete and the installation of the structural slabs well underway, the project is on track for its completion in Summer 2020.
Councillor Wayne Daley, Northumberland County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services welcomed guests to the event. He said: “It was great to visit the site for this significant milestone in what is one of the largest developments ever delivered by Northumberland County Council.
“It will provide two fantastic new schools plus state-of-the-art leisure and community and sports facilities which I am sure the people from Ponteland and surrounding communities will love.
The council is proud of what is one of its largest ever capital programmes with schemes to boost the county’s economy, improve education prospects for all and create new infrastructure for the future, with around £142m being spent on schools in a three-year period.
“We'll be having many more golden bolt ceremonies!”
Phil McDowell, operations director of Kier Regional Building North-East England, said: “We are delighted to be marking this major milestone in the delivery of these fantastic facilities for the community in Ponteland.
“We are working closely with our project partners to ensure these facilities open as planned in Summer 2020 and benefit the community and young people for years to come.”
Leisure charity Active Northumberland will manage the leisure centre aspects of the project once complete. Chief executive Mark Tweedie added: “This iconic new facility is key to ensuring Active Northumberland achieves its new vision and strategy to transform leisure services to bring an increased focus on participation for all and to improve health and wellbeing.”
Once complete, the Ponteland development will create a new hub for the whole community, featuring a 1,600 pupil secondary school, a 420-pupil primary school, a 52-place nursery, a leisure centre with a six lane swimming pool and height adjustable floor, a spa and a gym, as well as a soft play area, clip ‘n’ climb activity centre and a library and café.