Llanelli's Heol Goffa School in £10m Delta Lakes move

Councillor Emlyn Dole (centre) confirmed the move to pupils and staff

A new £10m school will replace Carmarthenshire's 50-year-old Heol Goffa special school in Llanelli.

It will be relocated next to the £200m Wellness and Life Science Village at Delta Lakes which includes leisure facilities and an assisted living village.

The announcement was made by Carmarthenshire council leader Emlyn Dole during a morning assembly.

Head teacher Nikki Symmons said pupils and staff were thrilled by the news.

The school provides places for about 80 pupils aged from three to 19 years with severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties.

• Work starts on £200m wellbeing village

The new facility will be able to cater for up to 120 pupils, plus 80 staff.

Ms Symmons said confirmation of the move capped a successful year as the school had received an "excellent" report following a visit by Estyn inspectors in March.

Mr Dole said the only criticism in that report referred to the school's "ageing accommodation" which was now being addressed.

He said the new school could be ready by next year with £10m earmarked from the council's Modernising Education Programme and the Welsh Government's 21st Century Schools initiative, although special provisions could add extra costs.

It will be situated on land behind the new Ysgol Pen Rhos school and adjacent to Delta Lakes.

An artist impression of the village at Delta Lakes