BRIDGEND Council’s cabinet has approved a new date for the completion of a replacement school site for Ysgol Bro Ogwr based on the outskirts of Bridgend.
Under the proposals the Welsh-medium primary school would relocate from its current location at Princess Way, Brackla, to a new-build facility on land off Ffordd Cadfan.
The plans would see the site enlarged to help meet the local demand for places, with 525 places expected for learners aged four to 11 and a 90-place full-time-equivalent nursery.
While the school was initially set to be completed by September 2025 a report given to members said this was no longer achievable because of delays with ecology work at the site, which were held up due to the presence of reptiles.
It also said that the relocation of the reptiles was expected to take place over the summer of 2025 when the rest of the site would be able to be cleared of scrub and bramble.
It added that with the full planning application for the school currently being finalised a new completion date could be brought forward for September 2027.
This would coincide with the beginning of the 2027-28 school year.
The report read: “The development of the scheme has been challenging due to the ecology issues which has prevented clearance of the Ffordd Cadfan site. This has impacted on the original planned implementation date”.
The new date was later approved unanimously by councillors in attendance with the project expected to cost around £18.6m.
A consultation on the proposals will also be carried out before the submission of a formal planning application to the council’s planning department.
The discussions around the school took place at a cabinet meeting in June and came just months after the announcement of new completion date for a replacement school for Mynydd Cynffig Primary in the village of Kenfig Hill.
Speaking at the meeting Councillor Martyn Jones of Garw Valley said: “We remain focused on delivering this project, which is now set at September 2027.”
