Plans For New Pencoed Primary School Reach Significant Milestone

After planning permission was obtained last month, Bridgend County Borough Council’s plans to build a new Pencoed Primary School reached another significant milestone this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Members from the local authority have agreed to invite tenders from construction companies interested in building the new £10.8m school, which is due to open in April 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The school is currently run over split sites, with some pupils being taught in buildings on Penprysg Road, while other pupils are based in the old Heol Y Cyw Primary School premises. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The plan is to bring all of the pupils together into one site which would be built on part of the school playing fields further along Penprysg Road. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new school would have capacity for 510 pupils aged 4-11, a 70 place nursery plus provision for pupils with special education needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Huw David, Bridgend County Borough Council’s new Leader, said: “We’re pleased to update parents, pupils and local residents on the latest exciting developments. Earlier this year, we carried out a formal consultation to gather views from all interested parties, followed by the publication of a statutory public notice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We didn’t receive any objections during this period, and planning permission has now been obtained so we are happy to be in a position where we can now proceed to the next stage which is to invite tenders for the construction work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The cost of the new school would be met from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme and Bridgend County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor David added: “The current school buildings were built in the early 1900s for separate infant, junior and secondary provision, and it’s far from ideal that many of the children currently have to cross a busy main road to walk between classes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The brand new building will bring all pupils together on one site, marking the start of an exciting new era for Pencoed Primary School and the local community it serves.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council will be inviting tenders from firms that are listed on the South East Wales Schools and Public Buildings (SEWSCAP) framework for the construction of the new Pencoed Primary School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​