Dry Street Basildon Primary School plans revealed by ECC

Following public consultation Barnes Construction, working on behalf of Essex County Council, has revealed its final proposals for the new Dry Street primary school on land north of Dry Street, Nethermayne.

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The project will deliver a new two form entry primary school with 420 spaces, an additional eight Special Educational Needs (SEND) spaces and a 56-place early years childcare facility.

Designs for the scheme, set to be ready for occupation by July 2024 reveal a sleek two-storey building.

An artist impression of the new Dry Street Primary School (Image: ECC)

Infant classrooms will be located on the ground floor with junior classrooms on first floor; classrooms are arranged in pairs “to allow for opportunities of interaction”.

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“The new Westley Green estate means we have lot of young families moving into the area,” Nethermayne councillor Kerry Smith said.

“There is desperate need for new primary places, and if this all falls into place on schedule then we should have that in time for the start of the 2024 new school year.

Plans for the school (Image: ECC)

The independent group leader added: “The schools around here are struggling to meet demand so this is very welcome news.”

The nearest primary school, Lee Chapel Primary School in The Knares, Basildon, was oversubscribed at the last government census, with over 1,000 pupils on its roll.

Mr Smith warned there could be further need for extra secondary school places in the area in future years.

“We have to take a look at creating spaces for when these kids grow up,” he said.

“Maybe that takes the form of expanding Woodlands School or a whole new school but that must be next on the agenda.”

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.

An academy trust to run the school will be announced in the coming year.