Construction is set to commence soon on a new £7.7 million primary school in Bridgwater, following approval from Somerset Council officers. This development is part of the Wilstock Village phase three project, which includes 248 homes and a community hub, designed to meet the needs of the expanding local population.
Bloor Homes South West received planning permission in July 2018 from Sedgemoor District Council to develop the Wilstock Village area situated between Bridgwater and North Petherton. While most homes have been completed, local children have had to travel to nearby schools such as Somerset Bridge Primary in Stockmoor Village.
Somerset Council, which took over responsibilities from Sedgemoor District Council in April 2023, confirmed plans in March to build a new primary school on Cosmos Drive, at the southern edge of the Wilstock development, near the forthcoming community hub. The school will initially accommodate 210 pupils plus a 40-place nursery, with design flexibility to allow future expansion as enrollment rises—mirroring the approach used at Orchard Grove Primary School in Taunton.
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The new facility will feature two large football pitches and outdoor play areas, while preserving existing public access via a right of way to Wilstock Lane. Construction is anticipated to start by late spring 2026 once the tendering process concludes.
Helen Waring, from the council’s education places strategy team, highlighted the urgent need for the school due to new housing projects such as Bridgwater Gateway and others nearby. She noted that surrounding schools are already near full capacity and forecast to stay that way, emphasizing that many families currently face long journeys to access education due to insufficient local places.
Additional upcoming housing developments, including plans for 225 homes north of Rhode Lane within walking distance of the new school, will further increase demand. As of January 2025, there were 1,001 primary-aged children in the catchment areas but only 840 available places, with even fewer reception places for new entrants.
The £7,742,000 budget for the school will be fully funded by housing developers through the community infrastructure levy. Spending is expected primarily across the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years, with the school opening to pupils in September 2027.
Ms. Waring also emphasized the broader community benefits: improved school access can reduce low-level antisocial behaviour and foster a safer environment, while encouraging children to walk, cycle, or scooter to school without the need for transport arrangements.