Bassetlaw District Council has secured £3 million of developer funding to help meet growing demand for school places in Worksop.
The funding will contribute to the total cost of building of a new primary school in Gateford – Whipman Woods Flying High Academy – which has been generated through Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 contributions.
This is being collected by Bassetlaw District Council as part of the planning process and will be transferred to Nottinghamshire County Council at intervals as the development progresses.
Work is already underway on the £11.47 million school, which is expected to open in September 2024. Built over two phases, it will create a total of 315 places, with an initial 210 school and 26 nursery places created to help meet the demand created by new homes in the area.
Cllr Julie Leigh, Cabinet Member for Identity and Place at Bassetlaw District Council, said: “This investment in Worksop will help to meet the growing demand on school places from families moving into new homes being built in the area.
“This allocation of funding shows that essential services and infrastructure, that benefit new and existing communities, are provided for and delivered through the planning process.
“It is vital we make sure everyone has easy access to the services they need, including high quality education facilities, and this developer contribution will help to achieve this.”
Section 106 contributions and the Community Infrastructure Levy is money developers must pay towards improving infrastructure in the local area and forms part of their planning consent. It means any additional demands the development puts on services such as schools or roads, can be met.
Cllr Maria Charlesworth, Ward Member for Worksop North, added: “This is a welcome and much needed school that will provide places for new and existing residents in the Gateford area. Myself, fellow ward members and Nottinghamshire County Councillor, Sybil Fielding have campaigned tirelessly to make sure the development of this school went ahead.”
Planning permission for up to 750 new homes, including a one-form entry primary school, a community hall and two junior playing pitches, was first approved by the District Council in 2015.
As part of the conditions of building the new homes at Gateford Park, developers have made the £3million contribution towards the primary school, which is being built on Gatekeeper Way.
When completed, the single-story building will have eight classrooms, a kitchen and a school hall. Outside spaces include plans for a multi-use games area, playing field and trim trail.
Energy efficiency measures such as solar panels on the roof, air source heat pumps, sensor-controlled LED lighting as well as three electric vehicle charging points are all being built in.
The project is being led by Nottinghamshire County Council, with its partner Arc Partnership, a joint venture between the council and SCAPE, which has designed and will manage the construction through its delivery partner, Morgan Sindall Construction.
Last Updated on Monday, February 26, 2024