Primary school to double in size to cope with rising number of people in south Warrington

Tue 29 Dec 2020

HOUSING development in south Warrington is behind major plans to expand a primary school.

Grappenhall Heys Primary School is set to double in size from one form entry to two in order to accommodate an extra 210 pupils.

The development will cost £3million.

The scheme is set to be discussed by members of Warrington Borough Council's executive next Monday, January 11.

The work should be completed by September 2022 with council chiefs saying they have identified the school as the best option for expansion due to its location.

The money will be funded by developers, through existing 106 planning agreements.

Although council documents say some grants may be needed in the short term to help with costs as those 106 payments are only paid when houses are sold.

But the work needs to start now before schools become too full.

The documents add: "There is very little capacity in Warrington South to manage the existing increase in pupils from the current housing developments.

"The expansion is therefore due to complete in time to coincide with when the majority of houses are sold across several housing developments.

"Section 106 funding is claimed as a result of triggers having been met, usually as a result of the number of houses having been sold.

"If the authority waited to start any building works to increase capacity in a school until the funding is fully claimed, it would result in the council not having enough school places.

"There would be a need for temporary classroom solutions at an additional cost to the council. Also a school would have to manage building works in an already overstretched situation."

Building can take place with little effect on the current school, the council states.