AN AWARD winning Wrexham company has landed a £6million contract to build a new school and playing fields in Connah’s Quay.

Read Construction Holdings won the contract – its largest to date – from Flintshire Council, which will see the merging of Custom House Junior School and Dee Road Infants School.

The project involves building one new school on the existing playing fields, then demolishing the two old school buildings to create new playing fields.

Andy Richards, business manager of Read Construction, described the contract as significant for the company and its future sustainability.

He said: “Tendering for these contracts can be quite complex and over the last six months we have noticed information on corporate social responsibility and delivering community benefits are an increasingly important requirement.”

He added that advice obtained during an Assembly Government workshop on procurement had strengthened Read in this area.

The company specialises in construction projects for the education and health sectors. Its largest previous project was a £3.25m contract for Chester Catholic High School.

Construction of the new Connah’s Quay school will run from January, 2011 to July, 2012, with the second phase involving the old schools and new playing fields running from September, 2012 to December, 2012.

The contract will bring additional benefits to the local economy as Read Construction, which employs 75 people at Brymbo Enterprise Centre, has committed to at least 90 per cent of the work being delivered by a local supply chain.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “The public sector will control £16 billion of expenditure in Wales this year, with funding on capital developments accounting for approximately £1.7billion. It is therefore very important that Welsh businesses are given an even chance to win contracts competitively and have the opportunity to deliver what we need.”