THE construction of a new primary school in Newquay is taking shape despite the recent wet and windy weather.

Newquay Primary Academy, which is being constructed in the grounds of Newquay Tretherras, is scheduled to be completed by mid December.

Construction company Kier has laid concrete foundations, and a structural steel frame is being erected. 

Newquay Primary Academy was due to open in September 2021 but the partially built building had to be demolished after Caledonian Modular went into administration and numerous faults were discovered. 

Cornwall Education Learning Trust, which is due to take over responsibility for the school, had to convert the Sports Bar at Newquay Sports Centre into classrooms, due to the delays.

The school is designed to accommodate 420 pupils and will have 14 classrooms, a dedicated design technology as well as cookery classroom, a studio for dance activities, a library, main hall and kitchen. 

A spokesperson said: “Generally, the works to the new school are progressing really well although the recent wet and windy weather has caused some disruption to progress. 

“Kier has cleared the site of the unforeseen existing basement structures and have completed the engineered fill up to foundation level. 

“The new concrete foundations have started to be constructed and will be complete in time for the new structural steel frame to start to be erected. 

“Steel erection should take four weeks and will include the installation of the pre-cast concrete stairs to the first floor, which will form the access to allow the metal decking and concrete first floor to start to be installed as soon a the steel frame is complete’ 

“Within this last period Kier have also completed and handed over the new tractor store and the new goods-in building, which are now in use by the school. 

“It is currently anticipated that the new primary school will be completed by mid-December 2024, however, until the building envelope is complete the risk of disruption due to adverse weather still remains. 

“The project team remain committed to trying to improve on this date wherever possible.”