Construction of the new Barton Farm Academy Primary School has been rescheduled to begin in spring 2019, with the new school building expected to be completed by the summer of 2020.
A recent review of the Barton Farm housing development's building progress confirmed that the construction rate of the houses is slower than the original forecasts used to plan for school places.
In the light of this information, Hampshire County Council and the University of Winchester Academy Trust, the new school's academy sponsor, have therefore agreed a new timescale.
Hampshire County Council's Executive Lead Member for Children's Services and Deputy Leader, Councillor Keith Mans, said: "The latest predictions around pupil data for 2019 suggest that the delay in the number of houses being built at Barton Farm would not justify the opening of a new school for September 2019.
"When the original schedule for the new school's construction was planned, we were clear that the dates would be subject to the rate at which the new housing would be built by the developer, and families moving into those properties. We and the Academy Trust have taken the latest information into consideration and agreed that it would not be in anyone's interests to have a school built significantly ahead of being needed to meet the demand arising from the new development."
With existing Winchester schools having sufficient places for the forecast demand, the updated construction schedule will have no adverse impact for families, and their children, currently living in the area.
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