Senior representatives from Bexley Council, L&Q and Anderson gathered last Wednesday to celebrate the completion of construction works for a new school at The Quarry, Erith.
Led by Council Leader Teresa O’Neil OBE, the special ‘topping out’ ceremony saw the last concrete being poured into the structure of the new facility.
The Lime Wood Free School is a new primary school, being created as part of The Quarry development at Erith. The school will open its doors to students in 2022, and be ran by the acclaimed Woodland Academy Trust, which governs seven schools in Bexley. It will cater to up to 650 pupils from nursery up to year six.
Alongside supporting families moving into the new development, the school will also function as a hub for the local community, with its main hall and sports facilities open to groups outside of school hours.
The Quarry is an impressive eco-development being built on the disused Erith Quarry site, which was neglected for over 30 years.
The scheme is being delivered by partners L&Q and Anderson, who have designed the scheme to have sustainability at its heart, with high quality homes integrated with community facilities, green spaces and excellent transport links.
Alongside the school, the completed development will provide up to 900 new homes, including affordable homes, community facilities, retained ecological areas and new open spaces.
Cllr Teresa O’Neill, Leader of Bexley Council said: “The topping out ceremony at the Erith Quarry school really brought home how iconic the school will be and how lucky the future pupils will be — a real investment in the future of our borough and we’re proud that the Council helped make it happen.”
Neil Davis, Regional Development Director (South London) at L&Q commented: “We’re proud to be celebrating this major milestone with our partners. The Lime Wood Free School will help to educate local children for years to come, playing a central role in the thriving community we’re building at The Quarry.
“Our vision for this development was always an environment where families and communities can grow. From affordable homes to community facilities, green spaces and sustainable infrastructure, this is just another reason why The Quarry is a great place to live.”
Andrew Jay, Group Managing Director at Anderson added: “This historic builders’ rite marks the completion of the concrete structure here at Lime Wood Free School. It’s a joyous occasion that stems from Nordic culture, and one which marks good progress with the School to date.
“The Quarry is living proof of our ethos of Building Value Together. We have an excellent working relationship with our partners L&Q, Bexley Council and the Department for Education which continues to drive the success of this new community in the heart of Erith.”
