Work begins on Sunesis School in Rugby
Construction has started in Rugby on the first Sunesis School in the UK.
Sunesis is a joint venture between Scape, a Nottingham-based company whose shareholders are Derby City, Derbyshire County, Gateshead, Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire County and Warwickshire County Councils, and construction partner Willmott Dixon.
The initiative, which was launched last year to meet the government's 'more-for-less' agenda, will reduce the cost of new primary or secondary schools by up to 30 per cent, Scape claimed.
Warwickshire County Council has approved the Sunesis concept to replace the infant/foundation stage of Oakfield Primary School, which was built in the 1950s.
A £2.2m standardised design called Keynes has been purchased, and will be installed over the coming months.
The fast-track construction programme is set for completion by the new academic year in September.
Colin Hayfield, councillor at Warwickshire County Council, said: "Through Sunesis, we've been able to cut out fees associated with legal issues, feasibility studies, design and time spent at planning and procurement meetings. We could therefore afford a new additional building, rather than a small extension."
