NORTH OF WHITELEY development has been delayed by approximately another six months and is now expected to start in May 2017.
The site for Cornerstone Primary School will not be available to the County Council to begin work on building the new school until September 2017 which allows the developers to build the road to the school and provide the services required to the boundary of the site. This means that the school will not be moved and open for the September 2018 intake as more than 12 months is needed to build it. The County Council is now proposing to have the school built for the start of the September 2019 academic year.
The reason for delaying the opening for 12 months is that it makes things much easier to manage in terms of the admission number for the school which will not have to move during an academic year. Forecast pupil numbers for the area show that there will be enough places available for any new pupils arising from the development prior to the opening of the relocated school. County
Councillor Seán Woodward said: “It is really galling that there is yet another delay to the North of Whiteley development when there is such important infrastructure relying on it, including new roads and schools. “This is despite planning consent having been granted and the school designs having been well supported by the public. “It is a good thing that the temporary school is in fantastic buildings and well able to cope with increased demand on its existing site.”