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 proportion of the funding has been secured from an existing agreement with developer Baker Estates, which is currently constructing a new development of 291 homes 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 (DCC) 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 classrooms.”
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 district 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. DCC said work is due to start in the autumn, to be ready by September 2019.
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 the 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.”
Councillor Henry Brown, Honiton Mayor, said: “This is a fantastic investment in our young people. Anything that will reduce class sizes so that students have more one-to-one time with teachers and classroom assistants is fantastic news.”
Hayne Farm offers a wide choice of 2, 3 & 4 bedroom houses, homebuyers are able to reserve off plan via the selling agents Bradleys at their local offices – 114A High St, Honiton EX14 1JP. The development has been very successful so far with 10 reservations already taken to date. The showhome launch is planned for the beginning of August. To book your appointment at the exciting launch please call today on 01404 46555 or email [email protected]
Feature article – Mid Week Herald – This Week 23rd May 2018.