PLANS to replace two rundown primary schools identified as priorities for improvement have been delayed.

Torfaen education chiefs hoped to replace Blenheim Road and Llantarnam primary schools by September 2015 as part of a £20.5 million project.

But the scheme has been pushed back to September 2016 because of a delay in getting approval for an outline business case, a cabinet report has revealed.

In May, Torfaen council said the two school buildings were “in poor condition” and “priorities for improvement”.

A cabinet report, dated September 16, on the school- building programme said: “It was originally intended that the new schools would be available from September 2015 but the delay in getting approval for the outline business case means that is no longer possible and the target delivery date has been revised to September 2016.”

A third school, Ysgol Panteg, will also be replaced as part of the £20.5 million project.

The building project comes under the council’s 21st Century Schools programme.

Funding will be split 50-50 between the Welsh government and the council, the cabinet report said.

In a Torfaen council official statement released in May, the executive member for children and young people, Cllr Brian Mawby, said: “We support (the) view that providing children with new or improved buildings significantly improves the quality of their education and their performance. This is at the heart of our 21st Century Schools programme.

“Blenheim Road and Llantarnam buildings are in poor condition and identified as priorities for improvement.

Our plans for Ysgol Panteg demonstrate our commitment to meeting demand for Welsh medium education.”

A Torfaen council spokesman said on Friday: “The delay in Welsh-government approval for the new schools means they will not be ready until September 2016. But the existing schools can operate fully and safely until then.”