Plans for New Primary Schools in Preston Discontinued

The construction of two primary schools, previously designated for a rapidly growing area of Preston, is no longer being pursued. A masterplan for the city’s northwest, introduced seven years ago, had included the development of these new schools as part of a broader strategy to construct approximately 5,500 residences in the vicinity over twenty years. While Lancashire County Council’s cabinet has approved the construction of a secondary school in Higher Bartle, contingent on acquiring the land from the housebuilder by the start of the new year, the primary school projects remain unaddressed. Furthermore, the prospect of establishing an infant and junior school on the Cottam Hall site, located behind the Ancient Oak pub on Merry Trees Lane, has also been abandoned. This particular site, situated just outside the masterplan’s defined boundaries, underwent a public consultation almost two years prior. Nevertheless, the outcomes were never presented to the cabinet for a final determination, leading to the discontinuation of the proposal. The masterplan document had merely indicated potential locations for the new primary schools in northwest Preston: one positioned just south of the M55 in Higher Bartle, and the other situated off William Young Way in Cottam. Subsequently, one of these designated school plots was reserved in November 2020, as part of the approval for a 200-home residential development located north of Tabley Lane. An application for a housing estate comprising 430 homes, situated between Sidgreaves Lane and William Young Way, was submitted last month. The present position of the county council indicates that neither of these locations will proceed with their planned educational function. Nevertheless, the authority has given its consent to establish a new primary school on the former grounds of Whittingham Hospital. This school is projected to open in September 2026, initially offering 210 student places with the potential to accommodate double that figure. Additionally, a consultation recently concluded regarding the proposed expansion of Goosnargh Oliverson’s Church of England Primary School, which could ultimately lead to a doubling of its capacity.