WORK has started on the new building that will accommodate staff and pupils from Cornerstone C of E Primary School in Whiteley.

The school, which is currently located in Bader Way, Whiteley, will be relocated and enlarged to cater for thousands of new families who will move into new homes in Whiteley over the next few years.

The start of building work was due to be in April, but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the government allowed work on construction sites to re-start, Hampshire County Council allowed contractors Midas to start work in May.

The £12m project will provide a school that can cater for 630 pupils from the ages of four to 11 years old. Building work is set to be completed by summer 2021, allowing the school to relocate and start lessons in September 2021.

Much of the work from now until autumn 2020 is likely to be groundworks, but from then, the building should start to take shape in its new location, in Whiteley Lane in Burridge.

The enlarged school is needed to help cater for families who move into the 3,500 new homes planned to be built in the new North Whiteley development over the next few years. The single-storey building will include 21 classrooms, four group rooms, large and small school halls, a studio, food technology rooms and more. The outdoor facilities will include three sports courts and three sports pitches.