Willmott Dixon has had a great start to 2010 with its appointment as preferred bidder for a new Academy in Tamworth that will be worth around £35 million.

The company has been chosen by Staffordshire County Council for the Landau Forte Academy, Tamworth, which replaces Woodhouse Business and Enterprise College in its existing facilities from September 2010 before taking up residence from 2011 in the new buildings that Willmott Dixon will create. 

Willmott Dixon is working with architects Aedas and construction of Landau Forte Academy's new facilities will begin in summer 2010 with an anticipated completion date of September 2011.

The new Academy's premises will be split over two sites with 11-16 learning provision located on the Woodhouse site and a new Post 16 Centre built next to Queen Elizabeth's Mercian School.

It's the latest in a series of academies that Willmott Dixon is responsible for under the Partnerships for Schools' national framework. In the Midlands, the company is also constructing the RSA Academy in Tipton, which will open in time for the new academic year in 2010.

Ian Parry, Deputy County Council Leader, said: "Staffordshire County Council has worked closely with colleagues from Landau Forte Charitable Trust during the selection process with both bidding contractors have put an extraordinary amount of effort in throughout the autumn.   

"This decision brings us one step closer to increasing the choice and diversity in Tamworth by introducing an Academy and demonstrates a major commitment to future secondary education in the area."

Peter Owen, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the Midlands, said: "Willmott Dixon has delivered a number of recent projects for Staffordshire County Council and is delighted to be preferred bidder to create this very important new school facility. Many of our Midlands team live locally and we are all looking forward to developing what will be fantastic new home for Landau Forte Academy, Tamworth."