Increased development will mean a greater need for more schools and healthcare in North West Leicestershire and Coalville, says report

By Graham Hill

9th Dec 2022 | Local News

Image: Dreamstime.com
Image: Dreamstime.com

A report has highlighted the expected needs for more schools and healthcare in North West Leicestershire as development of the area continues to grow.

Thursday night's district council Local Plan Committee meeting was shown an Infrastructure Delivery Plan for North West Leicestershire.

Councillors were told that 'several' new primary schools are likely to be needed, along with up to two new secondary schools.

The report says: "Many of the district's existing primary schools are forecast to reach capacity within five years, with limited scope for expansion.

"New development is therefore likely to require the provision of several new primary schools.

"All of the district's existing secondary schools are forecast to reach capacity within five years.

"Whilst there may be some limited scope for expansion, it is anticipated that the provision of up to two new secondary schools may be necessary across the district.

"Hugglescote Primary School within the Coalville Urban Area was expanded for the 2019/20 academic year, but the County Council has indicated that further expansion to three forms of entry is required to accommodate existing growth commitments.

"Two further new schools will be built within the Coalville Urban Area, both two forms of entry and linked to the strategic development site at South East Coalville.

"These are not yet factored into the County Council's capacity forecasts.

"The quantum of development proposed would generate pupil demand for around 2.5 additional forms of entry.

Castle Rock School in Coalville

"Based on comments from the County Council, it is unlikely to be possible to accommodate this scale of demand within existing schools.

"Given the extent of constraint within Castle Rock School and Newbridge High School at present, it is considered unlikely that new pupil demand could be accommodated within either.

"Castle Rock School is already very large, and Newbridge High School sits on a relatively constrained site in older buildings.

"Growth Option two may therefore require the provision of a small new secondary school in the south of the District, also capable of serving growth in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Ibstock and Measham."

Primary Healthcare was also addressed in the report which said: "Discussions with stakeholders have indicated that all of the district's existing GP surgeries are constrained.

"A general lack of primary healthcare capacity is also a major contributor to constraints within local hospitals.

"Development is likely to necessitate the provision of expanded surgeries, relocated (and expanded) surgeries, and/or the provision of entirely new branch surgeries to serve areas of growth."

The report focuses on Coalville and says there could be a case for expanding the current facilities.

It says: "The quantum of development proposed would generate around 4,300 new patients.

"This could be sufficient to justify and fund a scheme to address the significant constraints within the Whitwick Road Surgery, potentially allowing its expansion on site or relocation and expansion.

"Should this not be possible, similar expansions or relocations may also be possible for other surgeries in the town."

     

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