Work to move a Harlow primary school as part of expansion plans for teaching provision in the town is set to start in the summer.

Essex County Council is set to approve a new two form entry school on a site at Gilden Way, located within 300 metres of the current site of the single form entry Harlowbury Primary School in Watlington Road.

Doubling of the school to a total of 420 permanent pupil places is set to help meet significant pupil growth expected in the east part of Harlow, largely due to the result of new housing that is leaving a predicted shortfall of 81 reception places by 2028/2029.

This new school has sufficient space for another 120 places and its relocation may follow with expansion to three form entry, to add even capacity when growth requires it.

Even with the relocation and expansion of the school, two additional forms of entry in this area may be needed in the longer term.

However it is likely other schools may have to be expanded to accommodate the predicted extra children.

The county council, which has has been given ownership of the new site as part of a land deal agreement for the development of 1,200 homes in Gilden Way, will be financing the cost of the build.

The details of this has not been made public, though Morgan Sindall has won the tender for the construction of the school, which is planned to commence in July 2020. The new school is scheduled to open in summer 2021.

Development opportunities for the old site once it is closed will be subject to a separate decision from the council.

A statement supporting a planning application currently with the council said: “The school will provide for much needed school places in the Harlow area and will also allow the pupils of the existing Harlowbury Primary School to move to a brand new school that will provide modern, fit for purpose facilities, including SEN and speech and language classrooms, extensive playing fields and hard play areas.

“The local area has experienced a significant rise in the demand for school places in the last few years as a result of new housing development and therefore there is a defined local need for additional school places in this location.

“The new school will provide capacity for 420 pupils in the first instance, but the site has been planned to allow for possible expansion in the future to 630 pupils, should the need arise. The submitted plans indicate a possible area for possible future expansion to the north of the proposed school.”