A COMPULSORY purchase order could be made in order to push ahead with the redevelopment of a Wrexham primary school.
Wrexham Council’s executive board has unanimously approved the compulsory purchase of 2.44 hectares of land next to Penycae CP School which would be used to create a playing field and car parking at the school, which has been placed in Band A of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools project.
To date acquisition of the land has not been achieved by the council despite the council contacting and attempting negotiation with the current owner.
A report by Cllr Malcolm King, lead member for policy, finance, performance and governance, says: “The land is a crucial element in the development of the school facilities and cannot be achieved without the land.
“Due to these unsuccessful negotiations it is therefore appropriate to consider making a compulsory purchase order in respect of this interest to ensure the scheme can be implemented.”
Negotiations with the interested parties concerned will be ongoing with the aim of securing the voluntary sale.
At present there are two school sites at Penycae separated by about a third of a mile. Although the junior school block is in a relatively good state, there are a number of issues that restrict development, therefore the council identified the infants’ site as an alternative site and an extension to the infants’ block has been proposed.
Fifty per cent of the capital funding for the redevelopment of the school and purchase of the land has been secured through the authority’s capital funding programme, while a further 50 per cent will come from the Welsh Government 21st Century Schools funding.
The purchase order would be subject to planning approval being received for the redevelopment of the school.
When contacted by the Leader after the meeting the landowners, who did not wish to be named, said: “We are working with the council to come to an agreement. We’re still in negotiations.”