BAM has signed a pre-construction deal to bring forward the first major RAAC school rebuild project.

The firm will build a new school for St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham under a deal expected to cost around £46m.

BAM Construction and its design team, Ryder Architecture has started work to fast-track the design of the new school.

It aims to start demolition of the old building shortly with construction now expected to start from autumn 2024.

The school told parents that the discovery of RAAC has brought forward the new build for St Leonard’s.

Pupils are now being taught in temporary buildings opened this month, which is allowing the rebuild project to advance more quickly than original planned.