BAM Construction has secured a £26 million contract to design and rebuild a primary school and 80 residential units in North West London. The contractor was awarded the contract for Netley Street School by the local education partnership for Camden, as part of the borough's Community Investment Programme. BAM will create a new school building on the existing site to create a dynamic and high achieving campus for learning.

Facilities will include a new foundation stage building for the school, primary learning support services, a primary pupil referral unit and a community learning centre. There will be a new hall, more comfortable classrooms, better circulation and improved IT networks. Works will also include playground construction and landscaping. BAM will remodel an existing Victorian school building including installation of a new lift to improve accessibility.

Other buildings have been demolished and the pupils and staff will be housed in temporary accommodation on the site for the period of the works. Three floors of residential units will be built above the new school buildings, with a separate eight-storey block of apartments taking the total number of private apartments to 70. BAM will deliver 10 affordable houses as part of the contract. Sustainability measures including a combined heat and power plant, photovoltaic cells and natural ventilation will help the scheme achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating. The contractor will aim to provide seven placements for students through the Young Apprenticeships in Construction project. 

It will also work with local schools to give construction students an understanding of the construction process and the site as it progresses. BAM construction director Mike Donegan said: 'We are delighted to continue our long tradition of building in this area of London with this important facility for the local community. 'This project will create modern education facilities for pupils in Camden as well as much needed housing.' Work has now commenced on site and will be completed in December 2014.