School expansion faces £750k cost increase

The cost of expanding a primary school will rise by more than £750,000 due to contract price increases and unforeseen site issues, a council has said.

Initially budgeted at £2.8m, the expansion of Earls Barton Primary School near Northampton is now projected to cost £3.6m.

A review by North Northamptonshire Council said the rising costs were down partly to unidentified gas and water services discovered on-site, the removal of contaminated soil, and flooding events at the school.

The council is expected to sign-off on the additional £761,300 this week.

The Department for Education's Basic Needs grant would cover the increase, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The project, which came about because of a nearby 300-home development, will link the school's infant and junior buildings via a central structure.

Once completed, the school will accommodate 105 additional pupils in a new teaching block, replacing two mobile units currently in use.

However, the council warns the scheme cannot proceed without the additional funding.

Councillors are expected to approve the budget increase at an executive meeting on Thursday.

If approved, the work is expected to be completed by the summer of 2025.

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