Morgan Sindall is set to build a new £8.9 million Ermine Street Church Academy in Huntingdon, an area which will also include the construction of 5,000 new homes.

The project for Cambridgeshire County Council is the first school in the new Alconbury Weald development by Urban and Civic which will provide a new community on a former airfield near Huntingdon.

The academy will be run by the Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust, and the first phase of the single-storey school is due to open in September 2016.

Andrew Read, CEO of the Diocese of Ely Multi Academy Trust (DEMAT) said: “The school will take a central place in the locality, and we look forward to working with Morgan Sindall in securing the best possible educational outcomes for future generations, and nurturing the developing community spirit of Alconbury Weald.”

Bob Ensch, area director at Morgan Sindall, said: “This is an important appointment for us and plays directly to our strengths and experience creating innovative learning environments for young people across the country.

“The facility will act as a dynamic hub for more than 600 students, providing an engaging educational space for pupils to enjoy and supporting the emerging Alconbury Weald development as it continues to expand.”

A double-height vaulted roof assembly hall will form the central core area of the building. The school will house 17 classrooms initially with an additional six in phase two, along with a state-of-the-art learning resource centre.

The new building will be partially powered by photovoltaic solar panels and is on track to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’.