More details emerge on Winchester 'super school' plan (From Romsey Advertiser)

More details emerge on Winchester 'super school' plan

12:00pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Winchester

MORE details have emerged of Winchester’s new £7.75m “super school.”

County education chiefs have put on hold a decision to approve a new 420-place primary at The Westgate but planning is still going ahead.

Building work is set to start this summer with the new primary on Rotherly Nursery site opening its doors in September 2014.

It will be the first county-run “all-through” school for pupils aged four to 16 in Hampshire.

The aim is to tackle the shortage of primary school places but locals have complained of potential traffic chaos in Cheriton Road, Fulflood, with three schools located within a few hundred yards of each other, including Western Church of England Primary.

The Westgate primary will include 14 classrooms, library, main hall, music/drama room, offices, two group rooms, kitchen and staffroom, according to a report to the buildings, land and procurement panel last Tuesday (March 19).

The plan is refurbish red brick Rotherly House, which dates back to 1889, and link it to a new two-storey building.

The classrooms and a top-lit double-height library will be in the new building while revamped Rotherly House will house the hall and drama space.

It is proposed the main hall will also be available for community use.

Primary play areas will be directly accessible from classrooms while sports facilities and playing field will be shared with the senior school.

Meanwhile it is planned to relocate Rotherly nursery to a new building on the site.

The existing baby cottage will be demolished along with the boarding house for Westgate pupils which is to close.

Pedestrian access for the new primary will be off Green Lane and for the nursery off Cheriton Road.

Plans include a 32-space staff car park plus 14 car parking spaces for nursery staff.