New plan to be lodged for West Norfolk village school

A fresh plan has been drawn up to build a new, long-awaited primary school in a West Norfolk village.

Proposals for a new school in Gayton were first outlined nearly four years ago, but have stalled since then, amid concerns over flood risk and traffic.

Now, county education officials have confirmed they are pursuing plans for an alternative site to their original intention to develop land at the corner of Back Street and Winch Road.

Details of the fresh plan are understood to have been outlined at a public meeting in the village this week.

In a statement, issued yesterday, a Norfolk County Council spokesman said: “Our plan is for a new 210 place primary school building on the West Hall Farm site, with access from Springvale.

“Obviously these plans are subject to planning permission and other approvals.

“We would like to submit a planning application in September.

“The new school building will be funded from our multi-million pound programme to support communities in Norfolk that are growing through population growth and development by creating vital new school places across the county by building new schools and extending others.”

A number of temporary buildings have been used to accommodate pupils at the school’s current Lynn Road home ever since it became an all-through primary following reforms of village school provision in the area in 2011.

There is widespread agreement a new school is needed to meet current and future demand.

Planning permission has previously been granted to extend the use of those buildings, but is currently due to expire next year.

The authority has not said whether that consent will need to be extended, but maintains the temporary buildings will remain in place until the school moves.