Artist's impressions of Darwen Academy unveiled (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Artist's impressions of Darwen Academy unveiled

10:57am Thursday 23rd April 2009 in

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NEW artist’s impressions of Darwen’s “state-of-the-art” academy have been unveiled.

The £48million building off Redearth Road is due to open in 2010.

Artist’s impressions which have been just released show the central atrium and 240-seat central dining area.

There will also be an “entrepreneurship bridge” inside the purpose-built building.

The academy is currently operating at the former Darwen Moorland High School site.

Principal Brendan Loughran said: “Construction work at Redearth is progressing well, significant progress has been made and the building is really starting to take shape.

Both students and staff are really excited about the new site and the new opportunities for learning that it will bring.” There have been years of controversy over the new academy, named after its benefactor, former Capita boss Rod Aldridge.

Redearth Triangle residents fought a long court battle against the plans, which ended up costing the council hundreds of thousands of pounds after going to two planning inquiries.

And bosses have also faced criticism for not installing a firefighting sprinkler system.

Lib Dem Sudell councillor Roy Davies, whose son is a student at the Moorland site, said: “It’s been a long time coming and I’m sure students and teachers are looking forward to it opening.”

The academy will also have a state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure, a new sports hall and all-weather sports pitch, a multi-use games area, an aerobics studio and gym and a vocational skills centre.