Somerset Council has confirmed that Chard’s new primary school will be constructed adjacent to the town’s existing secondary school, Holyrood Academy. This announcement clarifies longstanding plans associated with the Chard Eastern Development Area (CEDA), a major project aimed at delivering at least 2,700 new homes, extensive employment land, and educational facilities.
CEDA, situated between the A358 Tatworth Road and the A30 Crewkerne Road, has faced delays due to several challenges, including an ongoing phosphates crisis. This environmental issue has pushed back the delivery of the much-needed Eastern Relief Road (ERR) and consequently hindered progress on new schools in Chard.
Although Somerset Council initially aimed to have the new primary school ready by September 2027, recent updates indicate that the opening may be postponed. Funding for the school, estimated at £7.75 million, is planned to be allocated primarily between April 2026 and March 2028.
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Council officers have also revealed plans to situate the primary school next to Holyrood Academy, allowing for a combined primary and secondary education campus. This approach contrasts earlier speculations about using the current Chard Town Football Club site for the school. Instead, the club is expected to relocate as part of new housing development plans on Thorndun Park Drive, which were approved in November 2024 and will help facilitate the club’s move.
The new primary school, named Wilstock Primary School, will open with capacity for 210 pupils and a 40-place nursery. It is designed with future expansion in mind, similar to the recently completed Orchard Grove Primary School in Taunton, ensuring it can accommodate a growing number of students.
Recent housing developments within CEDA further support the growing demand for school places. Gladman Developments received outline permission for 230 homes north of Crewkerne Road, contributing nearly £1.6 million toward education infrastructure. Similarly, Summerfield Developments secured approval for 94 homes on Tatworth Road, offering around £636,000 in school funding. Meanwhile, Persimmon Homes South West awaits a decision on plans to build 236 homes on Tatworth Road, which include the southern part of the ERR.
A council spokesperson emphasized, “We will not be using the existing Chard Town FC site for additional primary school places. Our intention is to deliver these places at Holyrood Academy, subject to planning permission and other statutory processes. The Blackdown Education Partnership supports this proposal.”
These coordinated efforts reflect Somerset Council’s commitment to addressing educational needs alongside housing development in Chard, setting the stage for a unified and efficient school campus in the near future.