WORK has started to build a new £24.5 million learning campus in Kidderminster, set to be the first of its kind in the UK.

A special sod cutting ceremony marked the start of the works for the Habberley Learning Campus, which will provide a shared learning environment for three Kidderminster schools – the Wyre Forest School, Baxter College and St John’s CE Primary School.

It is set to be one of the UK’s most significant low-energy school projects and the largest West Midlands Contractor Framework (WMCF) project to date.

The project, designed by Worcestershire County Council architects, will be delivered by WMCF contractor Speller Metcalfe and includes a new special school for 220 pupils, a 13-laboratory science block and a shared early years hub.

There will also be residential accommodation for 16 pupils and improvements to St John’s CE Primary School. A floodlit artificial grass pitch and associated car parking and landscape works will also form part of the plans.

The campus will be built in stages, with work starting this month on the Wyre Forest School, science block and the boarding house, followed by a all-weather sports pitch and the early years hub.

The campus is expected to be completed by Easter, 2015.

Conservative councillor John Campion, the county council’s cabinet member with responsibility for transformation and commissioning, said: “In addition to the benefits for the local community, this is a very significant project for the UK because of the exceptionally low energy requirements of the new buildings.

“The architects have designed the buildings to minimise the heating and cooling demand and to provide excellent indoor air quality.

“It’s a very impressive project and we’re proud to be able to provide this for our communities.”

The project will cater for pupils aged between two and 19 and will also include a hydrotherapy pool and small sports hall for residents to use.

Conservative councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member with responsibility for children and families, added: “This means that Worcestershire will have its first fully integrated education facility that brings mainstream and special school pupils together to use the same facilities.”