Somerset Council is set to generate £1 million by selling land in Ilminster that was originally designated for a new primary school. The site, located on Canal Way and close to the Herne View Church of England Primary School, will no longer host a new school as plans have shifted.
Herne View Primary School, established in September 2022 following the merger of Swanmead Community School and Greenfylde Church of England First School, currently operates on two separate sites in Ilminster. Key Stage 1 takes place at the former Greenfylde School on Silver Street, while Key Stage 2 is at the former Swanmead site on Ditton Street.
Originally, a new primary school was to be built alongside a 360-home development on Canal Way. However, in October 2023, Somerset Council announced that the new school would not proceed on this site. Instead, Herne View will expand its Ditton Street location to accommodate students from an upcoming Persimmon Homes development, which was granted outline planning permission in January 2024.
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The council has approved plans to consolidate Herne View into a single site at Ditton Street by adding a new classroom on existing playing fields. This expansion will create 14 classrooms capable of serving 420 pupils, at an estimated cost of £2 million. The early years provision, including the relocation of Apple Orchard Pre-School, will also be integrated into the site, converting a former adult education building to accommodate 64 infants.
Financially, building the new school on the Canal Way site would have cost up to £13 million, relying on housing developer contributions and increased council borrowing. By expanding the existing site instead, the council aims to save these funds and raise money from the sale of the Canal Way land.
According to Rose Stokes, a senior officer in the council’s education places strategy team, consolidating the school will reduce rental expenses and overheads caused by maintaining two sites. It also frees the Canal Way site for sale to housing developers, with proceeds potentially funding other capital projects like new roads or schools, or supporting frontline services subject to government approval.
The council estimates annual savings of £105,000 to the school’s budget, including £26,000 in rent previously paid for the Silver Street site. Additionally, it will avoid an estimated £523,000 needed to improve the aging Silver Street buildings, many parts of which are rated as “poor” or “bad” condition.
The new classrooms will be located on the existing playing fields, which will remain in surplus as per Department for Education guidelines. Regarding the future use of the Canal Way land, the council states that any development will be subject to standard planning processes and decisions will not be within the council’s sole control.
Persimmon Homes South West is expected to present detailed plans for the Canal Way development soon, signaling progress toward new housing in the area.