A Stoke-on-Trent-based firm has been appointed as the construction partner for a new £11.5 million satellite school.
Seddon Construction has been awarded the contract to construct a building complex to act as a new satellite facility to the existing Watermill School in Packmoor, Stoke-on-Trent.
The satellite school is being built on the site of the former Middlehurst School, which was closed in 2014 and demolished in 2022, and is designed to provide more learning opportunities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Funded through Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Schools Capital Programme, the new area will accommodate up to 70 pupils.
A ground-breaking ceremony took place a few days ago to officially launch the start of work, with the building expected to be completed by July 2026 and open to pupils from September the same year.
Lee Shaw, Commercial Manager at Seddon, said: “This is a project we’re deeply proud to be delivering – not just because of the difference it will make to children and families, but because it represents a strong collaboration between experienced, regional partners. We’re excited to be on site and to see the vision start to take shape.”
Watermill School has been designed to provide for a wide range of pupils’ needs to be addressed through educational, social, physical and emotional growth for three-to-16-year-olds.
Councillor Finlay Gordon McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This project is another clear sign that we are regenerating Stoke-on-Trent for the benefit of everyone.
“Seddon has been involved at every step of the process, through the pre-construction design and planning phase. Their appointment as the main contractor will see this exciting and much-needed development moving forward at pace.”
This is the latest project that Seddon is working on for the council.
Daily Focus reported at the end of last year that the company, which has its Staffordshire office in Stoke, was appointed to carry out the £5 million transformation of the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Hanley.
