School plans 'paused' over low place demand

Plans for a new secondary school in Burgess Hill have been 'paused', West Sussex County Council says

Plans for a new secondary school in West Sussex have been paused over lower-than-anticipated demand for places, according to the county council.

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) said a new Bedelands Academy in Burgess Hill would be halted for two years to reassess the plans, which were part of an "all-through" project including a primary school.

A council spokesperson said the primary school development would continue to be delivered by Homes England to serve 3,500 new homes in the Brookleigh development.

Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex, said the pause raised "as many questions as it answers" and called for more information to be released on the delay and the reasons behind it.

Jacquie Russell, cabinet member for children, young people and learning, said the pause would "ensure that we deliver the required school places, at the right place at the right time".

She said: "We have a duty to council taxpayers to ensure we make the right decisions on where money is spent.

"The current data shows the demand that was projected when this development was approved is not there now to justify the building of this school at this time."

WSCC said land for the school was protected for education purposes for the next 15 years in an agreement between the council, Mid Sussex District Council and Homes England.

Funding for the project also remains secured.

Following the announcement, Ms Bennett said: "Residents of Burgess Hill and the surrounding area deserve a guarantee from West Sussex County Council that they are in the position to move quickly to provide modern school facilities that will keep up with the long-term growing demand in the area.

"Parents and pupils must be assured that they can get school places they need when they need them. 'Pause' must not mean 'cancel'."