Delay for project to relocate Kenilworth School and sixth form amid 'ongoing uncertainty and challenges'

Before the Coronavirus pandemic the relocation of the school and its sixth form from their respective Leyes Lane and Rouncil Lane sites to land at Southcrest Farm was expected to have been completed by September 2021 but that is now expected to happen at least 12 months later.

A statement on the school's website says: Following the trust’s planning application submission in April 2019, consent by Warwick District Council was granted in December 2019.

"This impacted the programme of works and subsequently delayed the commencement of construction works in September 2019.

"The construction work is currently being tendered.

"The revised completion is currently summer 2022, but ongoing challenges and uncertainty of the current Covid-19 pandemic is a key risk.

"The project team are and will continue to monitor the impacts closely over the coming weeks.

"The students and staff continue to be excited about the relocation onto a new combined site and continue to work with designers and the contractor."

When completed the new facilities will include a new three-storey secondary school and sixth form building, walking and cycle access, parking spaces for cars, school buses, electric vehicles, sheltered bicycle racks, internal drop-off zones and sports pitches.

The project will create a single school site to combine the two existing sites allow for the expansion of up to 2,200 pupils.

Kenilworth councillor Richard Dickson said: "The announcement about the revised planned opening date of summer 2022 for the new buildings at Kenilworth Multi-Academy Trust brings some welcome clarity and transparency as to what's happening.

"Councillors granted planning permission for the new school in December 2019 and, whilst I can appreciate that students and families were understandably excited about the proposed opening in September 2021 as originally planned, this delay reflects the huge complexity of the project which is the largest ever capital investment in the town.

"Hopefully local residents can look forward to hearing more exciting news about the building work in the next few weeks."