PLANS have been submitted for a new 420-place primary school in Colchester.

Essex County Council plans to build a primary school in Stanway by and an opening date has been earmarked for September 2020.

A full planning application has now been submitted with a vision for what the school could look like.

The school, off Christopher Garnett Chase in the Lakelands estate, will be built by Barnes Construction and Concertus Design and Property Consultants.

The school’s sponsor, once selected, will consult with the community, determine an admissions policy and decide the name of the school.

The two-storey primary school will have 14 classrooms, a special educational needs resource base and therapy room, a library, hall, an all-weather pitch and studio amongst other facilities.

The county council’s consultation document said: “This project will provide brand new accommodation and facilities for pupils attending the school and provide a stimulating educational environment for all users.

“The project design team has been developing a proposal that would meet the school’s educational need and fits well on the school site.”

A consultation period ran through April and May.

The places will be made available as the school grows on a phased basis, starting with a Reception intake of 60 from September 2020. The are already 300 occupied homes at the Lakelands development next to the school, with more to come.

In 2012, the county council commissioned extra places at nine primary schools in the borough and in 2014, it expanded St John’s Green Primary School, Monkwick Infant and Junior schools, along with Montgomery Infant and Junior schools.

The following year it opened the 420 place Braiswick Primary School and Camulos Academy which also has 420 places.

Last September it expanded Home Farm, St Michael’s, Stanway and Stanway Fiveways primary schools, creating 875 new school places.

The new school near Tollgate will be a free school – the name given to new academies - as is required by Government legislation.

Ray Gooding, Essex County Councillor responsible for education, said: “I’m delighted we are pushing ahead with proposals to build a new school in the Tollgate area, as it will create much-needed places for this growing community, allowing convenient access to high-quality education.”