FOUR academy trusts are reportedly interested in running a new primary school in Basildon opening next year.

Dry Street Primary School, set to be built on land north of Dry Street, Nethermayne, will deliver a new two-form entry school with 420 spaces, an additional eight Special Educational Needs (SEND) spaces and a 56-place early years childcare facility.

The school site forms part of a development known as Westley Green that is currently being developed by Redrow Homes and will comprise around 725 new homes when completed with most of the homes already occupied.

The school is expected to provide places for Westley Green and Lee Chapel.

The Echo understands Essex County Council is in talks with four academy trusts about sponsoring the school ahead of an expected September 2024 opening.

The county council has remained tight-lipped on the trusts, but the Echo can now reveal Lee Chapel Multi-Academy Trust is one of those being considered.

“There are four bids in with the Government and we will soon learn who will take over the school, Kerry Smith, Essex County councillor for Basildon Westley Heights said. I am supporting the Lee Chapel trust as they have done a wonderful job with that school and a lot of parents in Westley Green send their children to Lee Chapel Primary School.

“That trust would fill residents with a lot of confidence that the school is going to be a success.”

Planning approval, handled by the county council, has yet to be granted for the school.

However, the site has already been cleared in preparation for construction, and with much of the design expected to be modular and built off-site, Mr Smith is confident the school can be ready to open next year.

Barnes Construction, working on behalf of Essex County Council, revealed its final proposals for the new school earlier this year, showing a sleek two-storey building.

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”.

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 have food, science, and design technology facilities, along with a large playground with a football pitch and outdoors basketball court.

Lee Chapel Multi-Academy Trust has been contacted for comment.