Category: Construction
Stepnell has broken ground on the major expansion of Houlton School, marked with a site visit from John Slinger, MP for Rugby. The scheme will introduce new primary learning facilities, establishing Rugby borough’s first all-through school by September 2026.
Urban&Civic – the master developer behind the wider mixed-use redevelopment of Houlton to the east of Rugby – has designed the primary school for Transforming Lives Education Trust as part of its masterplan for Houlton to meet local growth and increasing demand for places.
The standalone two-storey, timber framed structure will feature 14 classrooms, a main hall, kitchen, and a range of ancillary rooms, utilising Stepnell’s experience in energy efficient buildings that will facilitate the achievement of a Passivhaus building project.
External finishes, including brick and tile cladding with a metal roof, have been carefully selected to complement the adjacent secondary and sixth form provision at Houlton School, which was opened following the transformation of Rugby Radio Station in September 2021.
Graham Lambert, Director at Stepnell, said:
“Stepnell’s work on this landmark expansion at Houlton School will deliver a first-class primary learning environment that integrates seamlessly with the wider school.
“Our expertise in Passivhaus standards and modern timber construction, reflects our commitment to responsible and innovative building.”
Mike van den Berg, project director at Urban&Civic, said:
We are really excited to be taking on the next chapter in this iconic building’s transformation and adding to the Houlton School campus with primary provision. We are equally excited to be working with local contractor Stepnell who bring a wealth of expertise in school construction and a great local connection to the area and its future growth.”
Helen Stevenson, chief executive officer of the Education at Transforming Lives Education Trust (TLET), added:
“This really is a very exciting development and we are looking forward to seeing the building come to life.
“We are also in the process of securing our first teachers for Houlton’s primary offer, who will initially support the 30 Reception children who will be able to thrive in the buildings from September 2026. Plans really are gathering pace.”
As part of Stepnell’s commitment to delivering lasting social value, the project team will be working with the Urban&Civic community development team to engage across year groups to provide on-site learning experiences, careers advice, and employability support. The team will also work closely with the wider community to identify meaningful volunteering opportunities that further enrich local development.
Stepnell is implementing measures to minimise disruption to the existing school community, with construction utilising indirect access routes via the wider Houlton development, avoiding school grounds and ensuring safety and continuity during the build.
