Plans for a new primary school on the southern edge of Bridgwater have been delayed due to a £3.5 million rise in construction costs. The school is part of the third phase of the Wilstock Village development, which includes 248 homes and a community hub, with planning permission originally granted to Bloor Homes South West by Sedgemoor District Council in July 2018.
While most of the new homes have been completed, local pupils currently attend Somerset Bridge Primary School in nearby Stockmoor Village or other schools further afield. Somerset Council, which took over from Sedgemoor District Council in April 2023, had approved the new school in November 2025 with a scheduled opening in September 2027.
However, rising construction costs have postponed the project, possibly until 2029. The council emphasises that there remains adequate school capacity in the short term to accommodate pupils. The new primary school will be located on Cosmos Drive, near the planned community hub that received detailed planning consent in April 2023.
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Designed to serve 210 pupils alongside a 40-place nursery initially, the school will be expandable to meet future demand, similar to Orchard Grove Primary School in Taunton. The site, within the parish of North Petherton, is expected to feature two large football pitches, outdoor play equipment, and maintain an existing public right of way to Wilstock Lane.
The delay was detailed in reports ahead of a council executive committee meeting in Taunton, which also addressed postponements to other capital projects, such as Chard’s new primary school being delayed until at least 2030. A council spokesperson explained: “Stage two cost estimates for both Chard Primary School and Wilstock Primary School suggest both schemes will require significant additional funding. Wilstock is paused pending funding discussions, with about £3.5 million more needed, along with a refresh of pupil forecasts.”
Originally, the school’s budget was estimated at £7,742,000, fully funded by housing developers through the community infrastructure levy (CIL). The recent budget increase reflects broader inflationary pressures affecting the construction sector nationally. The council commented: “We have seen significant rises in construction costs recently, with tender returns often 30 to 50 per cent higher than anticipated. This is a national issue impacting capital projects across the country.”
Currently, a September 2028 opening is aimed for, though a deferment to September 2029 remains possible. Approximately £8 million of CIL funding is allocated to the project with no fixed spending deadline, and existing local school capacity is sufficient for the time being.
Bridgwater and North Petherton have experienced substantial housing growth, with further development planned over the next decade. Work is set to begin shortly on 511 homes at the Bridgwater Gateway site near junction 24 of the M5, where Keepmoat Homes recently obtained revised permissions. Additionally, Bloor Homes South West has proposed 225 new homes north of Rhode Lane, within walking distance of the future school.
Some local concerns arose when Carole Edmunds of Bridgwater Town Council suggested in early July that Wilstock would need to accommodate children from a planned 750-home development between Bower Lane and the M5. However, Somerset Council disputed this, stating: “Children moving into new homes on the eastern edge of Bridgwater are likely to apply for schools closer to home, including Bridgwater College Academy, St John & St Francis, and Kingsmoor. Other schools within statutory walking distance also have places available, and admissions are managed according to each school’s arrangements.”