The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has approved the appointment of Kier as the Lead Contractor for the new Harpenden Secondary Free School. The appointment of Kier follows a competitive tendering process to select a contractor.

Kier will now lead on the design and planning application to build facilities for the new Harpenden Secondary Free School, located at a site at the corner of Common Lane and Lower Luton Road.

The ESFA will work with the Harpenden Secondary School Trust, Kier and Hertfordshire County Council, as Education Authority, to submit a planning application.

Kier will also be responsible for the construction of the new facilities, with the aim of providing the first facilities on-site for September 2018.

The contractor intends to hold a full pre-application consultation before any plans are submitted. Details of this will follow.