vHH are excited to announce that we are working on a brand new secondary school in the new neighbourhood of Houlton, on the site of the former Rugby Radio Station. We recently delivered Houlton first primary school – St Gabriel’s CofE Academy, which opened officially in September this year.
Developers Urban&Civic have received funding approval from DfE to turn the Grade II Listed Radio Station, which was the hub of global communications in the 1920s, into a multi-million pound Free School due to open in September 2021.
The new school will be one of several serving a new community of 6200 homes when the development is complete and fulfils a twofold purpose by providing the new school facility and securing the future of the listed radio station building.
The design has been developed during ongoing consultation with stakeholders and advisory bodies, taking into account the key issue of retaining as much of the original building as possible whilst creating a high-spec, modern school building to fit the ethos of the new development and adjacent civic square. Facilities will include an Assembly Hall, Drama Studio, Activity Studio, 6th Form Social / event space, Sports Hall and External Sports Pitches.
James McCosh, Partner at vHH Architects said:
“We are delighted to be working again for Urban&Civic to create the secondary school for Houlton, using our expertise in both education and the creative adaptation of historic buildings to secure C Station’s future and create an exemplary school for the new community”
Richard Coppell, Development Director at Urban&Civic, said:
“We are delighted to be able to announce that we have agreed a deal to accelerate the secondary school at Houlton. We now get to progress the exciting and unique challenge of turning this 1926 Grade II Listed Building in Houlton into an inspiring place to learn.”