PLANS to demolish part of Bassaleg School, followed by the construction of a new teaching block have taken a step forward.

Last year, nearby residents were informed that plans were under way to increase the capacity of the school from 1,747 to 2,050 by September 2023.

It comes after the recently built housing developments in Jubilee Park and Tredegar Park Golf Club increased the population in the school catchment area.

Currently, it is expected that this will lead to demand for another 300 places at the secondary school in the near future.

Now, these talks have advanced to a formal planning application, which was submitted to Newport City Council’s planning department last week.

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The plans, submitted by LRM Planning, on behalf of the council, show that major changes could be coming to the school.

If approved, a number of demountable buildings, along with outdated buildings, would be removed or demolished.

This includes one building in the centre of the school, and two next to the Griffin block.

It is thought that these were only ever intended to be temporary structures, brought in to cope with the immediate demand from the Jubilee Park housing development.

Part of the Griffin block and the Forge dining hall would also be demolished as part of these plans.

In their place, plans show that a new, three-storey block would be built – directly linking the Forge building with the Griffin block.

South Wales Argus: The main entrance of the proposed developmentThe main entrance of the proposed development

The new building would be home to a new school assembly hall, dining hall, learning resource centre, classrooms and staff offices.

According to the agent responsible for the application, “the new teaching block will create a new focus and heart to the school”.

Along with the building work, the plans also provide improved car parking, and drop-off facilities on site.

Earlier this summer, a separate planning application to build two all-weather 3G sports pitches was also approved.

During the expansion consultation, it was estimated that the project would cost around £28 million, with £16 million from the Welsh Government’s 21st century schools programme.

The council would fund the remaining £12 million through section 106 contributions from the Jubilee Park and Tredegar Park Golf Club housing developments, and supported borrowing.

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How will it impact on local residents?

During the initial consultation, there was concern from nearby residents who voiced concerns that any expansion would could issues with parking, picking up, and dropping-off.

Within the now-submitted planning application, it states that: “Two main areas for car parking and drop-off are proposed.

“The Forge entrance will remain as the primary staff and visitor car park provision for the site and will be reconfigured to provide additional car parking.

"The Court Crescent entrance will continue to be used as the access to the improved bus drop-off area and will provide some staff overflow car parking. This entrance will also be used as an exit for delivery and refuse vehicles who will access the site via the Griffin entrance.

“The Griffin entrance will be retained but its use limited to deliveries and refuse use during school hours, as well as proposed continuation of its use by the community outside of school hours.”