Construction continues on new primary school near Stonehouse

Developer Robert Hitchins Ltd and housebuilder Redrow are forging ahead with the construction of a new school at Great Oldbury as part of a major mixed-use scheme west of Stonehouse, Stroud, close to Junction 13 of the M5.

Despite the setbacks posed by Covid-19, contractor EG Carter is on target to complete the new primary school in May 2021, in time for it to open in September 2021.

The school has capacity for 315 children, capable of expanding to accommodate 420.

Gordon Jeynes, Technical & Residential Development Director for Robert Hitchins Ltd, said: “This is really good news and we’re very pleased with the way the site is progressing. Delivering the school, which sits at the heart of the new development, is a significant milestone.”

The entire scheme at Great Oldbury includes 1,350 new homes of which 30% are affordable, a mixed-use local centre, and 9.3 hectares of employment land as well as landscaping and the associated support infrastructure.

There will also be a community hall, a site for health provision, sports pitches with changing rooms and public open spaces on the 98-hectare site north of the A419, between J13 of the M5 and the railway line west of Stonehouse.

The homes are presently being built by Redrow, Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes and Linden Homes.

The development includes S106 contributions towards highways, education and library facilities, as well as funding for enhancements to the local bus service, the construction of a community hall, and for canal restoration.

Planning permission was granted in January 2016 since when the access roads, utilities and infrastructure have been delivered by Robert Hitchins and Redrow, along with improvements by Gloucestershire County Council to the A419, just off the M5.

The entire development will be delivered in phases over 10 years.