Construction firm starts work on £12.4m school project

Acivico construction firm has officially started development on the new Forestdale School with project partners gathering to mark the start of a £12.4 million scheme.

The scheme will create a modern educational environment and deliver lasting benefits for pupils, staff and the wider community.

Representatives from Acivico, Galliford Try and key project stakeholders attended the groundbreaking ceremony, which celebrated the transition from planning and design into construction and recognising the collaborative effort that has brought the project to site.

The development represents a significant investment in education infrastructure and will provide a new, energy-efficient school designed to meet the needs of current and future generations.

The scheme will create and maintain 210 pupil places, ensuring access to high-quality specialist educational facilities for the local community.

Programmed for completion in late 2027, the project will deliver a modern learning environment alongside a range of sustainability benefits.

These include biodiversity net gain and ecological enhancements through tree retention, replanting initiatives and habitat improvement measures, helping to create a positive legacy beyond the school itself.

Acivico is playing a key role in the delivery of the scheme, working alongside Galliford Try and project partners to help ensure the successful delivery of the project from concept through to completion.

Rez Rahman, project manager at Acivico, said: "Reaching the construction phase is a significant achievement for everyone involved in the project.

“It reflects months of planning, collaboration and commitment from all partners, and we're proud to be supporting a development that will make a genuine difference for pupils, staff and the wider community. The new school will provide modern, sustainable facilities that will serve local families for many years to come."

The ceremony also provided an opportunity to recognise the contribution of the wider project team whose expertise and dedication have helped turn the vision for the school into reality.

The Forestdale School development demonstrates the value of partnership working across the built environment sector, bringing together specialist expertise to deliver facilities that will have a positive and lasting impact on local people.

As construction progresses, Acivico will continue working closely with Galliford Try and project stakeholders to support the successful delivery of the scheme and help create an educational facility that serves the community for many years to come.