A NEW primary school being built to support a 725-home housing development will provide schools spaces for 420 youngsters.
Residents have been given a first look at plans for the new Dry Street Primary School said to be complete by July 2024.
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An artist’s impression of the scheme reveals a sleek two-storey building, large enough to house two forms for each year group, plus 56 early years places.
An additional SEND room will be built, to enable up to eight pupils with special educational needs to be on the school’s roll.
“The sooner we get this new school the better, as there have been a lot of new homes built and lots of new families moving into the area,” Nethermayne councillor Kerry Smith said.
“It’s certainly a big enough school, so I am very pleased with the early plans.”
He added: “What we need now is extra capacity at Woodlands School as we need to look at where these kids will be going when they move into secondary school.”
“We absolutely need new school spaces in the area because Lee Chapel Academy is oversubscribed at the moment,” councillor Val Robbins added.
Located in Dry Street, on the 725-home Redrow Westley Heights housing development, the school is being built by Essex County Council (ECC) which has stumped up £20 million for two new schools in the county.
The primary school and the early years and childcare facility will be accommodated within the same building, with the potential for independent operation, if required.
The school will boast food, science, and Design Technology facilities, along with a large playground with a football pitch and outdoors basketball court.
In a letter to residents Byrony Dick, ECC project manager for the school, said: “This project will provide brand facilities for children and pupils and provide a stimulating educational environment for all users.
“The project design team has been developing a proposal that would meets educational need and fits well on the school site.”
Residents have been invited to take part in an online consultation on the plans, open until November 2: https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/
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