Construction will commence once formal planning permission is received. Credit: Hampshire County Council.

Hampshire County Council in the UK has approved a £17.9m ($21.9m) construction budget for a new school in Eastleigh.

A planning application for the development was filed last November.

Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2025 with completion planned for mid-2026, subject to the application’s formal planning approval this March. 

Located within the Boorley Gardens residential development, the 125-place school will support children with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs.

The project will be funded through the Children’s Services Capital Programme.

Named Luminous Oak Special School by the pupils at the academy trust, with insipiration drawn from a nearby oak tree, the new academy will offer specialised education for children aged eight to 16.

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The school is part of the county council’s Special Educational Needs Sufficiency Strategy 2023-2027, aimed at addressing the demand for SEMH school places in Eastleigh.

The development will comprise a two-storey building, offering 15 classrooms, specialist practical classrooms, therapy rooms, a fitness centre, and other facilities.

Solent Academies Trust, selected through a competitive process by the county council and subject to approval from the UK’s Department for Education, will manage the school. The academy trust’s responsibilities will include building management, maintenance, and insurance.

Hampshire County Council councillor and education executive member Steve Forster said: “We are committed to providing high-quality education for all children in Hampshire. This new special school will ensure that children with SEMH needs receive the support and education they deserve, closer to home, while delivering the best value for money.”  

Solent Academies Trust CEO Sharon Burt added: “It’s very exciting to have the spend approved by Hampshire County Council and to see our new special free school in Boorley Green take the next step towards starting construction, subject to final planning consent.

“We believe in the power of education to positively transform the lives of children and their families. Everybody at the trust is committed to ensuring all pupils experience an enjoyable, personalised and meaningful curriculum.”