Plans to expand Beaconside Church of England Primary School have been given the green light by Westmorland and Furness Council at its Cabinet meeting held in Kendal on Tuesday morning.
Members of the cabinet approved the plans to expand the school that will be funded using Section 106 funding provided to the council by housing developers linked to past housing developments in Penrith.
The expansion of the school will be funded using Section 106 funding provided to the council by housing developers. They provide these funds to ensure sufficient school places are available for growing communities as new housing is built.
The expansion will allow the number of children Beaconside can accommodate to increase over time, including the provision of 14 new resource provision places for children in Key Stage 2.
Resource provision (RP) school places provide additional support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to make progress in their learning and take part in mainstream school life.
In October last year, the council consulted on proposals to expand the Beaconside School building and facilitate an increase in the number of school places the school can provide over time. This latest approval means the proposals can now go ahead, subject to call-in.
Milorad Vasic, Director of Children’s Services at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “It’s really important we take the opportunity to utilise this available funding to the benefit of children and young people in Penrith, and ensure that for years to come we have sufficient school places including much needed resource provision supporting our children with additional needs.
“I’m really pleased cabinet have approved plans to proceed with the expansion of Beaconside School and once a contractor is appointed, I’m looking forward to seeing the initial designs for the project.”
Allan Harty, Assistant Director of Corporate Assets, Fleet and Capital Programme, said: “I’m glad to see this scheme progress as it demonstrates real investment in our communities and highlights the link between developer contributions and improving our school estate.
“The council’s capital programme team deliver almost £60m worth of investment in our communities annually and with our corporate assets team will work with our supply chain to see it through to fruition.”
The plans to expand the school had drawn criticism and objections from other schools in the area and from both Penrith Town Council and neighbouring parish councils over impacts on existing schools in the area as well as the failure to deliver a new school in Carleton.
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