We are proud to be playing a key role in the expansion of Kepier School at Houghton-le-Spring, supporting the delivery of new teaching and PE facilities to meet growing demand for pupil places.The scheme has been developed to support the school’s long-term growth while creating a positive, inclusive environment for students and staff.
Recently granted planning permission, this project will include a new three-storey classroom block, a PE block extension, and a covered external dining shelter, as well as improvements to car parking, landscaping, and site infrastructure. Together, the works will significantly increase the school’s capacity and improve the day-to-day experience for pupils, providing modern, flexible spaces for learning, physical activity, and social interaction.
As part of the project, we used our education sector expertise to guide Kepier School through the planning process, drawing on experience of delivering education projects within live school environments. This included navigating Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements and managing two planning applications to support the wider development strategy for the site.
The landscape strategy has been carefully developed to meet statutory BNG targets while ensuring the school grounds remain practical, safe, and enjoyable for students, without limiting future development opportunities. Our early involvement helped shape a solution that balanced environmental responsibility with the school’s operational needs.
“We are delighted to have received planning approval for the expansion of our school, which complements the planned increase in pupil numbers to 1,300 by September 2031. The proposals have been designed to support this growth and to align closely with recent curriculum changes, placing arts and drama back as key components. The developments connect directly to the additional funding we have secured for a three‑year pilot programme focused on oracy and drama, supporting the transition from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3. This work will enhance outcomes at Key Stage 4, encouraging young people to pursue pathways in the arts sector, including opportunities linked to local regeneration initiatives such as the Film Works.” – Shaun Van-Lindon: Deputy Head Teacher.
The project at Kepier builds on our strong track record in the education sector, further broadening our extensive portfolio of high-quality new builds and school extensions.
“At Gradon Architecture we are proud to be continuing our ongoing partnership with the Eden learning trust. Collaborating with the trust on several projects demonstrates our ability to successfully deliver projects within live educational environments, while meeting specific needs of different schools, from design through to completion. This project adds to our growing education portfolio, which includes a wide range of project across various Key Stages, including specialist SEN schools.”