A BOLT-TIGHTENING ceremony marked the start of work on the borough’s first new academy building in Ellesmere Port.
University of Chester Church of England Academy and local primary school pupils, partners and developers descended on the 12-acre site south of Sutton Way.
The £25m building benefited from Government-allocated funding.
University of Chester Church of England Academy principal Kevin McDermott said: “I’m really excited about the fantastic educational opportunities that the academy will offer the young people of Ellesmere Port once the new building is up and running.
“Our pupils have been involved in this project from the very beginning and it was great to see them get involved in the bolt-tightening ceremony.”
Ellesmere Port’s University of Chester Church of England Academy opened in September 2009, based in the former Cheshire Oaks High School and Ellesmere Port Specialist School of Performing Arts.
The development area includes an eight-acre subsidiary site, bordering Luton Way, and will accommodate top-quality grass and artificial sports pitches and an athletics track.
Cheshire West and Chester Council leader Mike Jones said: “Education is at the very heart of the council’s regeneration plans for Ellesmere Port and the new academy building will benefit generations of Ellesmere Port youngsters by providing first-class expertise in the very best surroundings.
“The new building, standing alongside the new West Cheshire College facility, will act as a defining skyline representation of Ellesmere Port to visitors.”
University of Chester vice chancellor Professor Tim Wheeler, lead sponsor for the project, said: “We are thrilled for the students, their families, staff and Ellesmere Port residents that the high standard of education provided by the academy can now be matched by its well-deserved, dynamic facilities.”
The building is expected to be complete by autumn 2012.
Ellesmere Port mayor Angela Claydon said: “I look forward to watching the development progress and the new building and additional facilities being completed so the pupils and staff can move in.”
