A Honiton school is set to undergo a £2.7million expansion - with work expected to start in autumn.
Extra classrooms will be built at Honiton Primary School as part of what Devon County Council calls a ‘phased expansion.’
A large chunk of the funding has been secured from an existing agreement with developer Baker Estates, which is currently constructing a 291-home development in Hayne Lane, Gittisham.
The Herald can also reveal that a proposal regarding Honiton Primary School’s expansion is set to be taken to Devon County Council’s cabinet meeting next month.
Councillor Phil Twiss, ward member for Honiton St Michael’s, said: “This is good news for Honiton Primary School, but most importantly good news for pupils who will go there in future years contributing to giving them the best possible start to their education in well equipped, modern class rooms.
“As a governor at Honiton Primary School I am delighted with this news and will do my utmost to make sure that the Devon County council agree to proceed with the project when they meet in June.”
The council is planning to complete the project, which will raise the school’s capacity to 630, in one phase at a cost of approximately £2.7million.
This, it says, will minimise disruption at the school and reduce the costs of having to go on-site twice. It is also understood an application for the expansion will be submitted to county planners soon.
Around £1.2million for the project has been identified in the council’s capital programme, with much of the remaining £1.5million met from a Section 106 agreement regarding Baker Estates’ Hayne Lane development.
Devon County Council confirmed work on the expansion is planned to start in autumn, to be ready by September 2019.
A spokesman added: “The scheme includes classrooms and support accommodation.”
Graham Hutton, development director of Baker Estates said: “We are thrilled that a large part of the funding we are providing as part of our development at Honiton has been allocated to expansion of Honiton Primary School.
“With development delivering 291 new homes, all of them family properties, we are hugely supportive that improvements will be made to local primary education as part of our Section 106 agreement.
“The expansion of Honiton Primary School will allow for many of these new families to send their children to the local school. Construction of our new homes is progressing well, with lots of interest in off-plan sales.”
Councillor Henry Brown, Honiton’s mayor, said: “This is a fantastic investment in our young people. Anything that will reduce class size so that students have more one-to-one time with teachers and classroom assistants is fantastic news.
“Hopefully, the attainment levels of the school will grow with this expansion.”
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