People in Knaresborough urged to have their say on £6m primary school and nursery plan

North Yorkshire County Council has launched a consultation on the proposed school which will initially provide 210 places for pupils but could double its capacity if needed.

The school has been proposed to meet future demand for places from local housing developments and ease pressure on oversubscribed schools in the area.

The main catchment area for the school will be Knaresborough’s new Manse Farm development where building work on 600 homes has already begun.

It will also take in children from the proposed Highfield Farm housing development and provide additional places for the wider Knaresborough area.

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Councillor Patrick Mulligan, the council's executive member for education and skills, said: “The Harrogate Local Plan has identified that in the medium to long term approximately 1,400 properties will be built over time in Knaresborough.

"None of the existing schools in the area have the capacity to absorb so many new pupils, so a new school in the area looks like it will be increasingly needed over the coming years to meet demand.

“People now have the opportunity to give their views on whether the proposed size and age range of a new school is suitable and the catchment area it would serve.”

The school will be a state-funded academy and an opening date has been set for September 2022.

Planning permission for the building was granted in June and it is expected to cost between £5m to £6m. It will be funded by the government, with a £2m contribution from the developer.

The consultation will run until 5pm on October 23.

To have your say go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/proposed-new-school-manse-farm-knaresborough

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter