Developers will fund primary school expansion but council identifies financial risk
Developers will contribute £8m to expand a primary school where pupil numbers will almost triple.
A report to Wigan Council’s cabinet outlines plans for a permanent expansion of St John’s CE Primary School, Mosley Common. Tyldesley.
The enlarged school will see admission numbers grow from 22 to 60 with effect from September 2027 or within three years of the decision.
Those targets are subject to securing planning permission and the approval of capital funding.
Earlier feasibility studies said the enlargement would add seven new classrooms, a new hall, an administrative block, a nursery, a Start Well Centre, and outdoor sports facilities.
The council said the delivery of the homes in the Mosley Common development will take place between 2026 and 2035.
The council report said the expansion is to be funded primarily through developer contributions.
However, such payments are released only when specific milestones in the associated housing development are reached, such as a set number of occupied homes or completion of a development phase.
As the milestones occur later in the build out of the housing sites, the council said it will need to forward fund the school expansion in advance of receiving the developer contributions.
The report said that phasing ‘creates a financial risk’ for the council.
The report said: “If the full contributions are delayed, not triggered, or are lower than the final cost of the scheme, the council would be required to meet any shortfall.
“In these circumstances, some or all of the cost of the project may need to be funded by the council rather than recovered from the developer.”
The council said £8,083,108 has been agreed through developer agreements to fund the expansion of St John’s.
£4,449,205 is from the ‘northern site’ close to the guided busway and £3,383,902 from the ‘southern site’, also close to the bus route.
A further £250,000 is earmarked from a developer from a different planning application.
A Wigan Council report said: “A large-scale development in Mosley Common prompted the need to consider a school expansion in the area.
“The combined site, composing of land to the north and south of the guided busway, is expected to be around 1,143 homes.
“Based on Wigan council’s pupil yield calculations, the development could yield around 34 pupils per year group.”