An independent school in Macclesfield has re-located to a new £60m campus.
The King’s School’s redevelopment scheme unites two previous sites across the town into one central area, with the new campus sitting adjacent to the school’s existing sports pitches at Derby Fields.
Academic buildings measure 21,000m², creating 350 rooms, along with a separate sports centre and 75-acres of sporting and outdoor facilities.
The new sports centre houses a six-lane swimming pool, six-court sports hall, indoor cricket centre, dance and martial arts studio, fitness suite and café. Outside, students will have use of five new rugby football pitches, a rounders field and two floodlit AstroTurf hockey pitches, and netball courts.
Pick Everard provided the design and engineering services for the project. The sustainable facility has been rated as BREEAM ‘Very Good’, and incorporates eco-features including sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), bat and swift boxes, beehives and outdoor classrooms to further connect pupils to their natural surroundings.
Simon Hyde, who was headmaster during the design and construction phase, said: “This has been without a doubt the most ambitious project for the school in its 518-year history, and we could not be happier with the finished product.
“The new campus will allow us to expand what we offer, for example, the new floodlit netball courts will allow us to host netball tournaments, something we simply could not do before. We also have Cheshire’s only indoor cricket centre.”
The school has now welcomed back its pupils in line with the latest government guidance regarding Covid-19. The large indoor and outdoor areas, and spacious corridors, are helping the school to operate safely.
The project was funded by the school selling its previous two sites in Fence Avenue and Cumberland Street to housing developers – areas which will provide sustainable and affordable homes, along with retirement and assisted living options.
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