Morgan Sindall Construction’s Yorkshire operation has shared details of its far-reaching investment in Wakefield following its move to the city just over three years ago.
Since the end of 2019, Morgan Sindall has been located in the heart of Wakefield town centre at Merchant Gate. In that period, the leading contractor has been appointed to a range of milestone construction jobs that are helping to shape a bright future for the city. This has seen the delivery or ongoing delivery of £27m worth of projects across Wakefield.
As a result, Morgan Sindall has developed social value plans that have seen it engage with the Wakefield community around employment and skills training, conservation, volunteering and offering its support to local projects where possible. This has included:
• £22,500 worth of community investment
• Six apprentice placements
• 17 weeks of work experience for local people
• 27 engagements with local schools
The first of the three schemes to be delivered has been the flagship new home of Wakefield’s CAPA College. A specialist provision for students aged 16-19 from across the North of England, CAPA College provides full-time training and education in all aspects of creative and performing arts from dance and drama to musical theatre, production arts, film and media. Situated on Mulberry Way (opposite Wakefield Westgate train station), CAPA College’s new £9.3m flagship home will become the gateway to Wakefield, inspiring and educating the next generation of performers and creatives in Wakefield and beyond.
Support for next generation of Wakefield talent is also at the heart of Morgan Sindall’s work at Outwood Academy City Fields school (City Fields). The £7.3m project – procured through SCAPE- is set to complete in August 2023 and reflects an urgent need for extra school places in Wakefield as a result of ongoing housebuilding in the area.
Working alongside the customer, Outwood Academy Trust, Morgan Sindall is actively promoting STEM careers through City Fields’ career events and by offering student groups the chance to tour the site and gain valuable, hands-on work experience with the team.
In tandem with this project, Morgan Sindall is currently giving a £10.6m new lease of life to the historic Be Well Support Stadium at Belle Vue. The existing East Stand of the stadium has been demolished with the construction of a new 2,600 capacity seated stand including home and away player facilities, staff areas, concourses for fans and a large hospitality restaurant above now underway.
A new 1,300 capacity standing terrace will also be added to the North Stand with extensive external works including the formalisation of the existing car parking area also to be undertaken as part of the scheme, which was procured via the Pagabo Major Works framework.
All three projects have been informed by Intelligent Solutions, Morgan Sindall’s approach to the modern construction agenda. Intelligent Solutions brings together digital and platform design capabilities with modern construction methods and innovative carbon reduction tools to create unique, sustainable, and inspiring places for our customers.
Ben Hall, Morgan Sindall’s area director for Yorkshire said: “We’re proud to call Wakefield our home, and it gives us a real thrill to know that we’re playing a key role in creating a bright future for the city. Whether that’s creating outstanding facilities for the next generation to hone their craft or learn about the world around them, or giving Wakefield Trinity’s stadium the makeover needed to become the home the club deserves.
“Coupled with this is the far-reaching work we’re undertaking supporting our local supply chain, workers and students, helping to build a resilient Wakefield economy and workforce. There is a huge amount of potential in this city and it’s a privilege for us to help unleash it.”