New primary school announced for Soham

SOHAM will get a new primary school in time for the start of the school year in 2013, the county council announced this week.

The new school, to be located in the north of the town, will provide primary school places for existing residents of the town and will also help cater for the influx of new housing proposed over the coming months and years.

The authority said the school, which will be the town’s third primary, would be built on land that is part of its Farms Estate, land earmarked for education use within the recent Soham Masterplan.

Council education officer, Ian Trafford, said: “Vehicular access to the proposed school will be via a new road from the A142 roundabout, and pedestrian access will be from The Shade and Kingfisher Drive.

“The new primary school will be constructed in two phases, each phase providing a total of 210 places for pupils aged between 4 and 11.

“The accommodation will comprise general teaching spaces and a two room pre-school facility for 2 to 4-year-olds.”

A planning application will be submitted in March, for both phases of the school building and, on February 23, a public exhibition of the plans and a drop-in session will be held at The Pavilion from 10am to 8pm.

County council officers and members of the design team will be available to talk to residents about the plans and answer questions about the design proposals in more depth.

Mr Trafford added: “The council is seeking, and would welcome, your comments and thoughts about the design proposals overall, but especially matters relating to the appearance of the building, including material and colours, and how this supports the ambitions of the school and local community.”

If you have any comments on our proposals contact Ian Trafford, Education officer, by email at: ian.trafford@cambridgeshire.gov.uk .