PLANS to build a 420-place primary school in Basingstoke have been backed by the borough council.

As previously reported, Hampshire County Council (HCC) submitted plans in March to its own planning department to build a new two-form entry primary school on land at the new Hounsome Fields housing development, serving more than 1,700 new homes.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council was consulted on the proposals and in a response submitted on April 17, said it has no objections.

READ MORE: Plans submitted for 420-place primary school in Basingstoke

HCC plans to open the new primary school in September 2025, admitting up to 30 children in Year R initially and providing for eight pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The primary school, which would be built on a field to the west of the A30 Winchester Road, opposite the golf course development where 1,000 homes are being built, would grow over time to 60 pupils per year group, to a total of 420 pupils across the whole school once full.

The proposed site layout has been configured to allow for potential future expansion which could see the school increase to 630 places but the council said “this will be subject to future demand and capital funding”.

The application states that the proposed building includes 14 classrooms, a music and drama studio, three group rooms, a library which is described as being at the “heart of the school”, and a main hall.

HCC said in its application that around 47 staff will be employed including 19 teachers. All new schools must be run by an academy trust, which has not yet been appointed to manage the school once it opens.

SEE ALSO: Hundreds hear from campaigners against threat of 2,150 new homes in Basing and Lychpit

Thames Water has also been consulted on the plans and raised no objections.

However, it said: “Care needs to be taken when designing new networks to ensure they don’t surcharge and cause flooding. In the longer-term Thames Water, along with other partners, are working on a strategy to reduce groundwater entering the sewer networks.”

It added: “Thames Water recognises this catchment is subject to high infiltration flows during certain groundwater conditions.”

It advised the developer to agree an “appropriate sustainable surface water strategy”.

It said it had been “unable to determine the foul water infrastructure needs of this application”.

Spot England has also supported the application, but recommended that the council carries out a “detailed assessment of ground conditions of the land proposed for the new playing field” to “identify constraints which could affect playing field quality”.

It added: “The recent Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) identifies that there are shortfalls in football pitch provision in certain parts of the borough with some of the large clubs not having their needs met eg Chineham Tigers; Tadley Calleva; Oakley Youth; Overton United FC; Whitchurch United Youth.

“The PPS goes on to recommend that it will be important in order to meet the future needs for football that community use of education sites’ playing field/pitches are secured.”

A public consultation on the plans ends on April 28.