Somerset Council pauses £13.7m Taunton primary school project pending DfE funding
Seeking central support for Wellsprings Primary rebuild amid financial constraints
Somerset Council has temporarily halted a planned £13.7m redevelopment of Wellsprings Primary School in Taunton, aiming to secure funding from the Department for Education (DfE) amid financial challenges.
Located on Crowcombe Road, the school's assembly hall has been deemed unsafe due to deterioration, with a new modular hall approved on the playground to address immediate needs, costing around £500,000.
While the council's budget initially included a major rebuild or refurbishment plan for the school, financial limitations have led to postponement as officers seek DfE support to fulfill the commitment to ensuring safe learning environments under the Education Act 1996.
The existing hall, built using the Orlit construction method, highlights infrastructure concerns that are directly managed by the council rather than multi-academy trusts.
The council's capital programme approved in early March outlined £13,726,000 for Wellsprings Primary's redevelopment from April 2026 to March 2030, with early work planned for this year.
A final decision from DfE's school rebuilding programme is anticipated by spring 2027, influencing the broader scope of subsequent improvements.
The council assures that the modular hall will proceed independently, serving as interim accommodation for current hall space loss until a permanent solution is defined.
Clarification has been provided on project interdependencies, reflecting caution in structural decisions pending DfE feedback.
Future developments are contingent upon the DfE bid outcome, determining funding eligibility and project scope.