A new £2.2m primary school for Whiteley has been given the go ahead – and will be open to pupils in September.
The 210-place voluntary aided Church of England primary school has been approved by Hampshire County Council for the temporary site earmarked on land between Leafy Lane and Lady Betty’s Drive.
A plan of the site for the new Whiteley school
The one-form entry primary school followed a consultation by the Portsmouth and Winchester Dioceses with backing from the majority parents in Whiteley.
It will initially cater for a maximum of 120 pupils aged four to 11 years. Building work will begin on the 1.67 hectare site in May and be completed by September.
Councillor Roy Perry, Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services, said: “I think it will be good news for children in Whiteley. It was way back in 2006 that we wanted to get a primary school in Whiteley.
“For a good number of years now the children have had to go to schools outside of Whiteley.
“This proposal, which is in conjunction with Winchester and Portsmouth Dioceses, I think, in the short term, will be a good solution to the problem.”
The building will consist of four classrooms, a hall and store room, kitchen, admin and reception area, head teachers office and staff room. There will also be staff and pupil toilets, a storeroom for resources, a cupboard for cleaning equipment and a plant room.
Some residents in Whiteley welcomed the plans for a new school at a consultation event in the town last month, while many other people feared traffic could increase and become a safety factor.
A defined on-site drop-off and pick up car parking area allowed for 42 spaces for parents’ vehicles should deter any potential traffic problems and will be monitored by the school.
Cllr Perry said: “I think traffic problems will be very short term and we will take every effort to minimise that. Having spoken to the Whiteley councillors Councillor Sean Woodward and Councillor Patricia Stallard, the local residents seem happy that at long last we’re putting a new school there.”
The drop-off car park, designed like a loop, will also include a disabled parking bay and an additional over-flow car park.
There will be a vehicular and pedestrian access at the Bleriot Crescent and Bader Way connection, a staff car park for 17 spaces including a disabled parking bay will be provided.
A formal hard play games area and grassed team games playing field will be on site for outdoor activities. A protected fenced play area for reception pupils will separate the youngest children to provide a safe play environment.
The school will eventually be built on a permanent site in the North of Whiteley development.