A computer image of the Duke of York Royal Military School, Dover, when the refurbishment is complete

by David Jones

A £25 million Kent construction project will give another big boost to building workers and suppliers in the county.

BAM Construction UK has been appointed to refurbish Grade II listed buildings at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School in Dover.

And the project’s boss has pledged there will be a major spin-off for local construction workers and businesses.

It’s a continuing Kent success story for BAM Construction, which over the last decade has completed projects in the county worth more than a third of a billion pounds.

The Dover contract will include the demolition of several non-listed blocks and building a sports hall, two two-storey teaching blocks and four two-storey junior boarding houses.

The company will also erect a two-wing, two-storey extension to Centenary House for senior boarders.

The co-educational boarding school became an “Academy with Military Traditions” in September 2010, and is now open to the children of both serving and non-serving parents.

Project director Rod Stiles said: “BAM is pleased to be able to use its extensive experience in the education sector to help this historic and important school upgrade its facilities.

“This scheme will provide cutting edge teaching, living and sporting facilities for students while remaining loyal to its historic roots.

“Most of the suppliers and construction workforce will be from Kent and our training programmes will continue to develop new local construction apprentices.”

Hemel Hempstead-based BAM is currently working on three academies in Medway, and the first of these, Strood Academy, opened its doors to 1,500 new students on September 3.

The company recently completed the Bluewater events venue and rebuilding of the campus facilities at Dartford and Gravesend for North West Kent College.