PROPOSALS to build a new 420-place primary school in Colchester has secured backing from councillors.

Essex County Council plans to build the school on land south of the Tollgate Centre and it could open as early as September 2020.

At a meeting of the council’s cabinet, members agreed four recommendations relating to the creation of the school.

Following a call-in period, work will begin on securing a contractor.

Councillors praised the move to build a new school, but quizzed education boss Ray Gooding on concerns about the design and traffic.

Lee Scordis, councillor for Abbey ward, said: “I certainly welcome this with the ongoing development there.

“One of the issues that came up from residents on the report was traffic and I think councillor Kevin Bentley more than anyone knows how bad the traffic can be there at peak times.

“I’m wondering if this is a good opportunity to look at trialling new methods of transport to school.”

Mr Bentley, who represents Stanway ward and is the council's highways boss, said: “We should work very closely together in education and highways to make sure we mitigate any travel problems people have before we start building the school.

“It is very important to work with the designers and planners, rather than just building a school and waiting for it to happen later.”

Mr Gooding added: “We are talking to each other fairly regularly in regards to this because there is always a danger thoughts of travel slip between the gap of the requirements.”

Mr Gooding said it was vital each new development was “bespoke” to the needs of the community.

Lib Dem, Michael Mackrory urged the council to ensure the design of the school was of good quality.

He said: “Can Mr Gooding ensure that these new buildings are of a design that we can be proud of and are not just shoeboxes built as cheaply as possible, that will incur high maintenance costs for the school in the future?”

Mr Gooding said the design framework for constructors was constantly under review.

He added: “I fully agree we need something which is of the best possible standard.”

The scheme is part of education bosses’ bid to cut the forecasted deficit in primary school places in Colchester.

Figures show, solely in the south west of the borough, there will be a deficit of 160 reception places within a decade.

The new school will be a free school – the name formerly given to academies - as is required by Government legislation.

Admissions will be dealt with by the sponsor.