An outline proposal has been published to relocated Heronsbridge School from Ewenny Road site to Island Farm (pdf).
Island Farm has been included as a strategic development site in the draft Local Development Plan and the relocation of Heronsbridge was one of the proposals.
The report says that there are overcrowding issues at the current site, with 236 students attending the school which has an operating capacity (in terms of space, facilities, storage etc.) for just 180.
There has also been increased demand for students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and the school has a £1.25million maintenance backlog.
The outline proposal is that the new Heronsbridge School would have the capacity for 300 students, which would address extra demand, meet disability access and facilities requirements and result in fewer students with additional learning needs being sent out-of-county.
The project would be by far the largest of the Band B programme in Bridgend, with the anticipated cost being at least £25million – around half the remaining allocated capital budget.
The new school would be accessed from the science park, with a left-turn only lane being provided from Ewenny Road onto the A48 at the Ewenny roundabout.
If the BCBC Cabinet approves, a public consultation will be launched shortly.
As the report refers only to the school, it’s unclear how this would affect Y Bont – which shares the school site – or whether Y Bont would relocate with Heronsbridge. Heronsbridge had previously been shortlisted as a potential location for a sixth-form college too – though those plans have seemingly stalled for the foreseeable future.
Bridgend’s second special school – Ysgol Bryn Castell – moved to the former Ogmore Comprehensive School site at Brynmenyn in 2013.
