A new school which would teach hundreds of primary pupils each year is planned for the Kings Moat housing development off Wrexham Road, Chester.

Views are now being sought for the school, which could open in time for the 2026/27 academic year, and would be located off Moat Lane on the new 1,400-home suburb. At present, the proposed school site is an undefined field area with a vertical ditch running north to south.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) is launching a pre-planning consultation on the proposed design. Before the school’s planning application is submitted for approval, the council is sharing the proposed design with the local community and key stakeholders for any feedback and comments so these can be taken into consideration prior to finalising the design.

It is projected that the 1,400 homes proposed for the Kings Moat development site are likely to result in approximately 300 children aged 4-11 who will require school places in the local area.

Using current forecasts, initially the school would open as a 210-place (one form entry) mainstream primary school, with the intention to add a further 105 places (half form entry) expansion as the housing development progresses and the pupil place need arises.

The school will accommodate mixed genders aged 3-11 years and include a pre-school provision of 26 places. Based on anticipated need and the timeline to deliver a new school, it is estimated that the new school would be required to open at the earliest in September 2026.

CWaC added: "The housing developers still have several utility infrastructure and diversion works to be completed on the proposed school site before the land is ready for building works to commence, and we can take ownership of the site.

An artists impression of what the new primary school would look like.

An artist's impression of what the new primary school would look like.

"Some of these works are likely to continue after we take ownership of the site and their completion will be essential to enable the school to be constructed and occupied. The timescales for this work to be completed may result in a delayed start on site and could impact on the expected opening in September 2026, and push this back to a later academic year."

Once all phases of the surrounding Kings Moat housing development are complete, the school would sit centrally within the development with new homes surrounding the school and would be located close to the new community playing fields and 3G pitch and the new public park – Moat Park.

The school site would be accessed from Moat Lane, which is the secondary spine road for the housing development that will link the two roundabouts along the A483 Wrexham Road that provide access to Chester Business Park.

The consultation will run until September 6, with an online survey available at https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Wrexhamroadschool

Three public drop-in events will also be held to provide an opportunity to view the architect’s plans and meet the project team. These will be held at the Taylor Wimpey Kings Moat Marketing Centre, Wrexham Road, Chester CH4 9DE on August 13 (3-7pm), August 15 (10am-2pm) and September 4 (3-7pm).

Although the new school has already been approved in principle, as part of the masterplan for the Kings Moat development, the detailed design of the proposed primary school, including its external appearance, landscaping, site layout and scale, will be considered formally by way of a Reserved Matters planning application in the autumn.

The proposed school site location is a 1.46 hectare plot, based on a two-storey design, with exterior areas including extensive tree planting, a multi-use games area (MUGA) and two grassed pitches, plus outdoor learning, seating, habitat and play areas together with staff parking and cycle storage.

Cllr. Adam Langan, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We want to hear the views of those living nearby so that we can take their feedback into account when the school’s design is finalised.

"The new school has been designed to offer a full range of facilities from 3-11 years of age alongside community uses and will have a comprehensive school travel plan to encourage walking, wheeling and cycling by both staff and pupils and reduce car journeys.”