The construction of an £80 million education center which will be one of the largest education facilities in Kent has moved a step closer to completion.

The plans for the campus at Ebbsfleet Garden City were approved in 2021 and aims to provide over 2,200 places to primary and secondary school children in the area.

Last week, Northern Ireland construction company GRAHAM was appointed by Eastern Quarry Limited (EQL) as contact persons tasked with progressing the multi-million pound Alkerden Academy project.

The site is located in the Whitecliffe development and will create a five-storey secondary school building and a two-storey primary school.

The campus will also include a community gym and sports fields along with parking.

Construction has already begun, with a target completion date of July 2026.

The project was previously scheduled to be completed in 2023, but he was late after the developers said there was “currently no demand for it and opening too early could see places going for children from outside the area”.

Construction was expected to begin in the summer of 2021, but only started last year with the completion of the foundations for the middle school.

EQL is owned and managed by Henley Camland, a joint venture between Henley Investment Management and Camland Developments, which is delivering the project.

Henley Investment Management chief executive Ian Rickwood said: “The new Alkerden Academy, a major education center and community sports facility, is at the heart of our plans for this development.

“We are on the ground delivering this comprehensive school, putting in place vital infrastructure and facilities to support local residents and the new communities who will make Whitecliffe their home.

“Working with our partners, we are bringing new villages and facilitating the delivery of 6,250 homes to Ebbsfleet Garden City.”

GRAHAM Regional Director Pat O’Hare added: “Alkerden Academy is a key component of the Whitecliffe development, providing significant educational and recreational benefits to the Ebbsfleet Valley community.

“Our team is dedicated to providing a facility that not only meets the highest standards of sustainability, but also provides an enriching environment for students and the community.

“This project demonstrates our ability to manage complex developments and we look forward to working closely with EQL and the consultancy team to realize this vision.”

The school faced criticism from parents before opening up after her the admissions policy was under the spotlight.

Frustrated Garden City residents claimed they were “sold a dream” by the academy, which was forced to add an extra class after it became oversubscribed and some who live nearby feared their child could be turned away a place in relation to others who live further away.