EARLIER this year outline planning permission was granted for a new primary school and up to 25 dwellings off Station Road, Newton St Cyres.

Newton St Cyres Primary School has now been allocated funding by Devon County Council to build the new school.

Design proposals for the new school are being developed that meet the needs of the school and the community.

Kingswood Homes are working on evolving a design for the residential element of this development to ensure that it can deliver a scheme which will provide high-quality housing whilst remaining sympathetic to its immediate surroundings.

Kingswood Homes held a public exhibition on the proposals in the existing school hall on Wednesday, July 6.

Almost 100 people went along to see and comment on the plans for the housing and/or the plans for the proposed new school.

The school will be constructed by the Education Funding Agency on land north of the residential area/site.

The residential development will provide a mix of high-quality family homes in this idyllic edge-of-village location, incorporating a communal greenspace area and pedestrian link to the A377, village centre and new school.

The scheme will provide a mix of three, four and five bedroom homes in a range of sizes, layouts and designs to ensure it meets the needs of local people and provide a variety of homes that reflect the village setting.

The school will comprise of four classrooms, as per the existing school but with a hall which could accommodate 300 people, suitable for whole Federation school assemblies.

There are one-to-one teaching spaces, a catering kitchen and a staff/teaching kitchen.

The school will be grey brick with coloured panels and one storey high with the hall double height.

A spokesperson for the architects said that the structure system for the school has been used many times before but this will be the first one in Devon of this style.

John Jolliffe, executive head teacher for the Exe Valley Federation, said the developers have taken on board what the school required and incorporated their ideas into the plan.

He said he was pleased with the proposed plan, adding that it was time for a new school building at Newton St Cyres.

Newton Nippers is not yet part of the plan but it is hoped that this will be included and there is space to accommodate this in the future with an adjoining structure.

A total of 36 parking spaces are included with the school plan as well as a drop-off area and multi-use games area.

A potential drainage area/wildlife area adjoins the plan.

Kingswood Homes welcomes comments on the proposed scheme before it submits the formal planning application.

If you would like to comment, email: [email protected] or write to Kingswood Homes UK Ltd, 8 Bridge Court, Liverpool New Road, Little Hoole, Lancs, PR4 5JT.

Comments and responses received by Wednesday, July 20 will be reviewed by Kingswood Homes team and the company says, where possible incorporated into the proposed development.

The application will then be submitted to Mid Devon District Council.

Alan Quick