Last month’s Abbots News reported that the relocation of Breakspeare School had been delayed due to adverse conditions at the new site.
Now, following a meeting of Hertfordshire County Council’s (HCC) Education, SEND, and Inclusion Panel on Wednesday, July 9, it has been revealed that the move has been delayed by two years.
Breakspeare School caters for children with severe or profound learning difficulties. It is currently located in Abbots Langley but will move to the former Durrants School playing field in Croxley in order to increase its capacity from 97 to 210 places.
A report issued in March revealed areas of chalk dissolution at the new site in Croxley, requiring remedial works to the ground prior to the construction of the school. This required a redesign of the foundation and drainage design solutions.
In the meeting last month, HCC stated that the targeted opening date would be set back from spring 2026 to late summer 2028 to allow the required redesign works to take place.
Councillor Mark Watkin, HCC’s executive member for education, SEND and inclusion, said: “I am committed to expanding provision across Hertfordshire for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This commitment is non-negotiable.
“An additional ground condition survey has been conducted by HCC on the Durrants Lane site, which is the site for which planning permission has been granted for the relocated Breakspeare School. This has highlighted adverse conditions at the site which will require us to carry out further work, including a possible redesign of the foundation sub-structure of the scheme.
“As council finances remain under strain, it is crucial that when large infrastructure projects of this nature are taken forward that councillors are aware of any issues before we break ground.”
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