PLANS for a new £11.5 million primary school in Cwmbran are on hold until after the coronavirus lockdown.

The proposed rebuild of Maendy Primary School will see the number of places increase from 231 to 420, along with a 30-place nursery, and therefore must be subject to a public consultation.

It is the consultation which “ultimately will determine if this proposal is to proceed.”

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However, the county borough council said the consultation cannot be completed until schools re-open, meaning the plans are on hold. However, the council has said this could change if schools remain closed for some time.

A council spokesman said: “We will aim to progress as quick as we can and hope to be reporting back to cabinet shortly, and if they agree to publish the next stage.

“The longer the delay in moving to that stage the longer the potential delay in competing the project, but as always we will work with the contractor eventually appointed for this project to move forward as quickly as we can.”

It had previously been reported that building work could start as early as July next year, but it’s not yet clear if this is still possible. The school is expected to open for September 2023.

It will not only be the council’s first low-carbon, energy-efficient school project but it would help ease increased demand from 1,200 homes being built in South Sebastopol.

The school, which will cost £11.46, will be 65 per cent funded by the Welsh Government, equating to £7.45 million.

A business case has also been submitted to the Welsh Government.