The first building project to start on site after being procured through a new multi-million-pound construction framework is under way in Lincoln.

Lindum Group has commenced work on a scheme which was commissioned using the latest SCAPE Regional Construction framework (RCf).

The RCf was launched in August to deliver £750 million of public sector building work across the Midlands and East of England over the next four years.

Lincoln-based Lindum is among eight contractors to win a place on the framework following a competitive tender process. The company can deliver projects up to a value of £7.5m in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland.

This week, a new secondary school arts and drama block became the first project to make it to site – heralding an important milestone for SCAPE and its new framework.

Matthew Jones, Lindum Group Framework Manager, said: “Being the first contractor to break ground on the new SCAPE RCf is a testament to our team’s efficiency and our ability to mobilise the new framework.

“It also shows how the framework can help the public sector get its projects off the ground quickly, and it’s no coincidence that this project is for a client who has used SCAPE to work with us many times before.

“The framework’s well-established procedures are valued by our repeat clients. They particularly like how it allows them to benefit from early engagement with our designers and construction experts.

“This means we can ensure their design is ‘right first time’ and future proof. On this scheme, for example, the block will have seven classrooms, and some will feature internal partitions which can be opened entirely to allow the school to double the size of the rooms in future if needed.

“Early-stage conversations also allow us to help clients meet their wider priorities, for example this building will have a reduced operational carbon output thanks to the PV panels we’ve added to the roof design.”

On this latest project, Lindum’s client is a group of schools called the Priory Federation of Academies Trust. The Trust first used SCAPE four years ago when Lindum sat on its previous framework (which allowed the company to deliver projects up to £750k).

Since then, Lindum has delivered 18 projects for the Trust via SCAPE. The latest scheme is for a new Arts and Drama block at The Priory Academy LSST campus on Cross O’Cliff Hill, Lincoln.

Andrew Graves, the Trust’s Capital Projects Manager, said: “The SCAPE framework guarantees high-quality, value-for-money work for every development.

“We have partnered with Lindum many times and know that we will always receive a first-rate service from start to finish, and an end product which everyone can be proud of for years to come.”

To mark the start of work, representatives from Lindum and SCAPE visited the school.

Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE, said: “We are delighted to be working with our partner, Lindum to deliver the first building project via the Regional Construction framework. The quick mobilisation of the project, alongside early client engagement, demonstrates how the framework and our collaborative working with Lindum will allow us to easily meet client’s priorities and deliver real value successfully.”