23-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Archbishop Rowan Williams extension link to house sales
Funding for the extension of Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales Primary School, which has been close to capacity for at least the past two years, is linked to money promised to Monmouthshire County Council by housing developers.
The councillor in charge of education, Labour's Laura Wright, said a timeframe for when a planned classroom extension for the Portskewett school can be built is dependant on the housing developments.
She said the council has invoiced the developers for 'some of' the money it is owed under a Section 106 legal agreement which governs payments for community benefits linked to planning permissions. It has requested the cash as Cllr Wright said the 'relevant number of houses have either been sold or occupied'.
She said: 'However the amount isn't immediately sufficient to develop a classroom extension as envisioned as being needed. When the remaining funds are received from the developer it will be feasible to undertake the work.
'A timeframe for this is as yet undefined and will be dependent on how quickly the houses can be built and sold. This approach isn't unusual in the circumstances but I appreciate it is probably frustrating. We do remain committed to the development and extension of Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales Primary.'
Conservative councillor for Portskewett, Lisa Dymock, said all connected with the school were 'eagerly awaiting clarity on the promised funding especially given the pressures on space and rising pupil numbers.'
Two years ago there was a row between the Conservatives and the ruling Labour group over a decision to allocate more than £400,000 paid to the council, from earlier housing developments, to a primary school in Caldicot rather than Archbishop Rowan Williams.
At the time Cllr Dymock, and the Conservatives, claimed some of the cash should have gone to the Portskewett school which was just four places short of its 210 pupil capacity.
But the council cabinet said the money wouldn't have covered the work required at the school but its expansion could be funded from an expected £1.1m due from the other local housing developments.
