Proposals to rebuild a Horwich primary school to create places for a large residential development are in the pipeline.

Officers are to explore the possibility of rebuilding and extending Chorley New Road Primary School in order to accommodate the influx of children expected as part of the early stages of the development of Horwich Loco Works (Rivington Chase).

The development is expected to create up to 1,700 houses over a period of 10 to 15 years and was approved by the council’s planning committee last year, with a condition that adequate education provision, funded by the developer, was made in the vicinity.

Education bosses have looked at a variety of options to meet the potential additional demand for up to 390 primary school pupils.

The options included expanding existing schools in the area; creating a new academy or free school; and building a replacement school for an already established primary but with larger capacity plus expanding some of the existing schools over the long term.

Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Linda Thomas, said: “This is an exciting prospect for the school and we are confident the staff, parents and pupils will all benefit from a new, purpose-built school that will be enjoyed for years to come. In recent years we have successfully rebuilt a primary school – Clarendon Primary School – and it is a fantastic, modern facility. We hope to recreate the same buzz and excitement around Chorley New Road.

“Of the three options available to us, the potential to rebuild a larger version of Chorley New Road Primary School is the preferred option. It would be created on the current site of the school, where the playing fields are, and the existing building would then make way for the school’s leisure amenities.”

The school’s current admission numbers are 45 and the plan is to make it a two-form entry with 60 places, therefore providing 105 extra places as required over the years.

Officers will also explore the potential to expand some of the remaining primary schools in Horwich, to meet the extra demand for school places as the development continues.

On Monday, July 6, Cllr Thomas gave officers the go-ahead to investigate the proposals further and to begin consultation on increasing the admission number of Chorley New Road Primary School.