AN Ellesmere Port primary school is expected to receive more than £300,000 to help it accommodate more pupils from a new housing development.

Sutton Green Primary School may be granted £337,546.67 from developer Redrow, which has permission to build 2,000 homes in Ledsham Road.

It comes as the first phase of Redrow’s development – consisting of 170 homes – is close to completion, and the money will be used to meet a short-term increase in demand, before a new primary school is eventually built.

A Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) report confirming the move said: “It is proposed that Sutton Green is to accommodate short-term demand directly linked to this development.

“Use of [developer] funds would be required to allow the school to facilitate a temporary increase in their published admission number until the position regarding the new free school and associated timings is known.

“Sutton Green was built in the late 1960s and although it has been adapted and remodelled over the years, the building has dated significantly and would benefit from capital investment in a number of areas.”

The school currently has a published admission number of 40 pupils a year – but this number is expected to be changed to either 30 or 60 in future to help the school become more financially viable, CWaC’s report adds.

A feasibility study will be carried out to consider what work will take place to meet the extra demand, using the developer contribution.

Redrow is also set to make a contribution to the new primary school, which is expected to admit 45 pupils a year.

Work on the second phase of the development – consisting of 458 homes – is due to begin imminently.

CWaC councillors have until Wednesday, May 15, to ‘call in’ the decision for further scrutiny, and no members have called in the decision yet.

The funding will be confirmed on the following day if there is no ‘call in’ for the decision.