A new secondary school is ‘coming to Houlton’
Plans for Houlton’s secondary school have been announced, with an opening date set for September 2021. The new school will be built at C Station at the heart of the former world famous Rugby Radio Station and will be operated by the Trust that runs Ashlawn School.
This imposing Grade II listed building, visible from the A5, was once the centre of worldwide communications, with 12 iconic 820ft radio masts surrounding it.
Since 2005, when it was decommissioned, it has sat virtually empty, but its Grade II listing meant its heritage would be protected.
Urban&Civic, the developers of Houlton have long intended to try and turn this building into the secondary school for Houlton and gained the support of the local education authority Warwickshire County Council (WCC).
Although work was not scheduled to begin for many years yet, Urban&Civic, working together with WCC, approached the Department of Education (DofE) with a view to bringing the £35 million project forward. Doing so means that the development will help provide much needed secondary school places more quickly.
Richard Coppell, Development Director for Urban&Civic, said: “We are excited to transform this unique historic building at the very heart of Houlton into an inspirational place to learn for both local residents and the wider Rugby community. We have worked closely with the DofE, WCC and the Transforming Lives Educational Trust (which runs Ashlawn School) to accelerate the delivery of the secondary school which we hope will attract even more families to
choose Houlton.”
A name and brand for the new school will be announced soon and there will be public events in summer to give people the chance to view the designs and find out about admissions. The school will serve the Rugby and Houlton communities.
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