A PRIMARY school's redevelopment plans have been given the official go-ahead.

In July 2020, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet had endorsed redevelopment and replacement of the current 1970s Ashurst Primary School building with a new modern and vibrant learning facility.

The local authority's planning committee has now given the green light for the Blackbrook-based school's redevelopment.

This will see an increased classroom capacity and provide support to children with special educational needs.

The new facility will also have improved thermal performance, reducing carbon emissions as a contribution to the council’s climate emergency declaration.

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Phase one of the project will see the creation of the new school building for up to 240 pupils which will take approximately 56-weeks to complete, with some play surfaces retained.

Phase two will then take a further 33-weeks and involve carefully taking down the existing school to create the replacement play areas, as well as enhanced car parking provision.

Welcoming the decision, Cllr Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet member for education, skills and business, said: “With very limited government funding provided to the council for rebuilding our schools, every year we have to make difficult decisions about how we allocate capital budgets, but the case for rebuilding Ashurst Primary School was very strong.

"I'm confident the new building will support the learning and development of the children who attend the school, and be a facility that the school community can be proud of."

St Helens Star:

 

Cllr Groucutt

Speaking on how much of a difference the redevelopment will make to the lives of pupils, Ashurst Primary School head teacher, Lisa Houghton, added: "We are delighted to be having a new facility that will ensure the very best learning environment for our children to thrive and achieve their potential.

"The new modern building will provide the resources to support all our children on their educational journey, helping them to flourish and achieve 'excellence everyday'. Staff and children at Ashurst are excited for the building work to commence."

Work on the new school is expected to start in the autumn, with a construction management plan implemented to minimise disruption to pupils, teachers, parents and local residents during the development works.