DETAILS about a schools and leisure campus in Ponteland were unveiled as Northumberland County Council announced the preferred bidder to take on the project.

Plans for the combined schools and leisure campus were given outline permission by Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee earlier this month.

Now Willmott Dixon has been announced as the preferred bidder for the project, which will see the existing leisure centre demolished and replaced with an improved leisure centre and primary and secondary school.

At a meeting last week, Willmott Dixon unveiled a model to showcase the layout of the site and provide an impression of how it will look.

It will consist of state-of-the-art facilities in two brand new school buildings and a new leisure facility to include a swimming pool, fitness suite, badminton courts, outdoor sports fields, two full-size 3G artificial pitches and a library.

Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract for Northumberland County Council.

“We have developed a proposal based on the needs of the community and providing a range of facilities which will not only benefit the pupils from the schools but also local people for years to come.”

Chief executive of Northumberland County Council Steven Mason said: “The investment into the schools and leisure facilities will provide a fresh and modern learning space for pupils, providing an excellent learning environment and helping to deliver the best possible education for children across Northumberland.”