Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise on the reserved school site at Upton Rocks.

            The Board was advised that land at Upton Rocks had been reserved for a number of years for the development of a new school, should it have been needed. In Widnes the Published Admission Number was for 736 pupils per year. With the Basic Need capital development at two Widnes schools (Lunts Heath Primary and St Bede’s Catholic Infant and Junior), infant capacity would increase to 756 places, once the work had been completed.

            Members noted that there was no additional need for a school to be developed in Widnes, as sufficient capacity would be achieved, which included anticipated increases predicted to peak by 2015, and considered the request to release the site for development.

Reason(s) for Decision

The report seeks permission to release the reserved Primary school site to allow further development and improved access.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Consideration was given to retaining the reserved site. However Primary pupil numbers were insufficient to justify any new development.

Implementation Date

The proposed release date was January 2012.

            RESOLVED: That the reserved school site at Upton Rocks be released.