Telford £200m schools building decision delayed

Part of phase one of the BSF project, the Abraham Darby site is due to be completed by summer

A £200m schools building programme has been delayed due to the volume of public feedback, a council has said.

Under the plans six schools would close in Telford and be replaced with new buildings, in many cases on other sites.

Telford and Wrekin Council said 2,000 people had taken part in a consultation and a decision would now be made on 26 April, a month later than planned.

The second phase of schools building is due to be completed by 2016.

The work would be funded through central government grants and the sale of council assets, including some currently owned by schools.

Councillor Paul Watling said: "Due to the large response the cabinet has deferred its original meeting date so that they can fully consider all comments that have been made."

The Labour-controlled council said the plans, if approved would provide "high quality and sustainable buildings that will increase ambition, attainment and community pride".

Co-operative Academy

Announced in November, the plans include the building of a new Christian faith school in Priorslee to replace the Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College.

A new 1,200 pupil school would then be built on the old Catholic college's site in Wellington to replace Charlton School.

A new Co-operative Academy would also be built on land next to Oakengates Leisure Centre, to replace Sutherland Business and Enterprise College and Wrockwardine Wood Arts College.

New primary, secondary and sixth-forms are planned for a site in Stirchley, to replace the Lord Silkin and Grange Park Primary schools.

The first phase of the authority's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme included the Madeley Academy, which opened last year, and the Abraham Darby Learning Community, which is due to be completed by the summer.