Building works at the new Bedford Greenacre Independent School site at Manton Heights are progressing, following the completion of a multimillion-pound funding deal earlier this month.

The funding from HSBC UK, which was secured with the help of law firm Shakespeare Martineau, will support the development of the new 40-acre school, including more than 55 classrooms, a 3G football pitch and amphitheatre.

Groundworks, excavation, piling, and concreting are all under way, with the project on target to recieve 690 pupils, from reception to sixth form, in the 2024 autumn term.

Bedford Greenacre Independent School was created in 2021 following the merger of Rushmoor School and St Andrews School and currently operates across two sites in Bedford. The new school will replace the two sites.

Ian Daniel, headteacher at Bedford Greenacre, said: “The project is developing at pace; the car park for staff and the community is already in service and the modular structure will begin to take shape over the next few weeks.

“We’re thrilled with the positive reactions from our local community about our transformational project so far, and delighted to have reached the all-important milestone of funding completion.”

Joseph Soul, partner at law firm Shakespeare Martineau, who led the deal, added: “We have worked with Bedford Greenacre Independent School in respect of the development of the new 40-acre school site from the very beginning, and this has included the merger of St Andrews and Rushmoor schools, assisting with the appointment of strategic land partners and, more recently, the significant funding deal with HSBC UK.

“It’s been a team effort from our experts in construction, banking, real estate, charity and legal planning, as well as working closely with the planners at Marrons and, of course, the team at Bedford Greenacre. We’re pleased to have reached another milestone and look forward to the next.”