£11m Expansion of Holy Trinity Academy in Priorslee Approved

A £11m proposal to expand Holy Trinity Academy in Priorslee and increase school provision, has been approved by Telford and Wrekin Council’s planning committee today (16 December).

£11m Expansion of Holy Trinity Academy in Priorslee Approved

***Updated Friday, 17 December***

Statement from Telford & Wrekin Council said: "Holy Trinity Academy is a successful school with plans to increase its school number by another 300 for the benefit of local children in the direct vicinity of the school.

The council feels that the benefits of the new facilities carefully balance the needs of the community, the school and future provision for children who will benefit from an expanded education facility in their local area. 

·       Around two thirds of informal space remains for public use where people will still be able to exercise and walk dogs, use play equipment etc

·       Improved and protected pitches will be developed with new changing facilities, available for weekend and evening use by groups, clubs and community members.

·       Excellent sporting facilities for pupils will be developed and more local places for schools in the surrounding area.

Graphics are available which illustrate the percentage of the area proposed for playing pitch/running track/fence versus the area proposed to remain in public use.

Most bulbs and saplings are outside the proposed fence line on the banked area and the council will endeavour to maintain and protect as many as possible. Any benches would be moved to outside the fence line

Although the school’s name is ‘Holy Trinity Academy’ it is not funded as an academy in the usual way by government - the school is administered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury and the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield and a not for profit organisation


The agreed budget allocation of £11m will allow for the development of both the school and its sporting facilities which will benefit the wider community while providing a further 300 new school places for children in the area. 

Councillor Shirley Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education and Lifelong Learning said: “We are pleased this school expansion has been approved it has been is a very carefully considered proposal where safeguarding and pupil provision have been balanced with ensuring the quality of life for residents is maintained in terms of sporting and educational provision.

“We’re sure the improved sports provision including new floodlit 3G football pitches for evening and weekend use and changing facilities will be a huge benefit to the community with large informal areas of public space still available for use. 

Holy Trinity Academy head teacher Angus Neal: “This development represents an exciting milestone for the school and the community. 

“The new facilities will bring real improvements to the quality of education available to all present and future students while welcoming more sports clubs and individual users to use the venue during weekends and evenings in a safe environment.

“The project is the culmination of extensive consultation and aims to balance the growing demand for extra provision, safeguarding needs and also serving the recreational needs of the community.”

Working in partnership with the school, and diocese, the council approved a plan including the following enhancements: 

  • An additional 300 places for local children within the ward of Priorslee and those that border it including those children who will move into the area as part of the planned housing developments within the schools vicinity;
  • 15 classroom extensions, (nine general and six science classrooms)
  • Improvements/increase in dining provision
  • Improved community provision of two enclosed grass football pitches and a 3G floodlit multi-use pitch.  
  • Public changing facilities for those using the 3G multi-use pitch

School will continue to run as normal during the expansion phase with disruption to pupils and the surrounding residents kept to a minimum.

The plans are available here and Wilmot Dixon have been appointed as the principal contractor. 

Now that planning approval has been granted, work is planned to commence in early 2022 and due for completion around the end of 2022. 




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