PUPILS from two York primary schools have made their mark on the steelwork of a new £4.1 million hub and library in the heart of a York community.

Five children from St Aelred’s RC Primary School and five from Hempland Primary School were invited to sign the steel at The Centre @ Burnholme, and their names will forever grace the structure.

A new community hall, library and cafe, nursery and meeting spaces will be provided on the former Burnholme Community College site, alongside recording space for Tang Hall SMART, a community-led social enterprise which also works with disadvantaged groups across the wider York area.

Sewell Construction has been appointed to carry out the 45-week project on behalf of City of York Council and pupils signing their names on the steel framework marked the latest construction milestone as work progresses.

The project will see around £35 million of public and private sector investment for the development of a health and wellbeing campus, benefiting residents of all ages.

As well as the community and library building, the site will contain a new care home, health centre and affordable housing while also retaining sports and play facilities.

Since the main steelwork was erected, the ground and first floor concrete slabs have been laid, internal drainage works have been completed and concrete stairs have been installed.

Work has started on the roof, while openings within the nursery area have also been created and an additional car park area has doubled the capacity for vehicles.

Mark Dodgson, project manager at Sewell Construction, said work is progressing well on site and the development is due to be completed in May 2018.

“We’re now progressing with the façade and have completed the car park, which was our target over the half term period,” he said.

“We’ve also improved the existing car park to double the size of the area from a vehicle perspective. This should help to ease congestion in the area at peak times, particularly when sports facilities are in use.”