Plans to expand Puriton Primary School, located near Somerset’s upcoming gigafactory development, have been postponed by up to a year due to revised pupil forecasts. The school, situated on Rowlands Rise at the southern end of Puriton near Bridgwater, currently accommodates 210 pupils but was projected to become oversubscribed by September 2026.
In February, Somerset Council’s planning and transport policy sub-committee approved allocating £700,000—sourced from contributions linked to local housing developments—to fund the expansion. However, updated pupil data now indicates that the increased demand will not occur until September 2027, prompting the council to delay the project accordingly.
Puriton Primary forms part of the Futura Learning Partnership, a multi-academy trust managing several schools in the region, including Chilton Trinity School, Northgate Primary School in Bridgwater, Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School in Wellington, and Woolavington Village Primary School.
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The council disclosed the delay within a broader capital programme report presented to its executive committee on September 8. A spokesperson stated, “Delaying the Puriton Primary expansion by 12 months allows us to better align school capacity with actual housing development and pupil growth, while monitoring the provision of education land through Section 106 agreements.”
Funding for the expansion will come primarily from the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) pot (£558,000) and local Section 106 agreements (£142,000), both mechanisms aimed at securing developer contributions for community amenities.
Puriton and surrounding villages are experiencing substantial housing development interest given their proximity to the new gigafactory. Redrow Homes is currently undertaking the Polden Orchards development, which includes 120 new homes on Woolavington Road, while additional housing proposals in Woolavington are also under consideration.
The council warned that other school projects may experience similar delays. These include the construction of Wilstock Primary School in Bridgwater, the expansion of Herne View Church of England Primary School in Ilminster to support housing on Canal Way, and a new primary school planned for Chard.
“Delays in finalizing key decisions on schools in Chard, Bridgwater, Ilminster, and Taunton could cause a slip in capital spending forecasts,” the spokesperson added. They confirmed that the council will continue to revise projections throughout the year as circumstances evolve.