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Families being 'let down' over delays to Kenilworth primary school expansion

Local News by James Smith 26th May 2026  
The St John's Primary School expansion is yet to begin (image via planning application)
The St John's Primary School expansion is yet to begin (image via planning application)
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Kenilworth families and a local primary school have been "let down" over continued delays to a major expansion project.

That is according to Liberal Democrat councillors pushing for work to begin at St John's Primary School.

The £6 million redevelopment is yet to begin with Warwickshire County Council (WCC) still waiting to submit a new planning application for the works which will eventually allow 200 extra spaces at St John's which would become two-form entry.

It would also include space for up to 14 places for children with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) who can be catered for at a mainstream school.

The completion date was changed originally scheduled for 2024, and has been continually pushed back.

In an update last week, local Lib Dems said signs of progress are coming through which a new submission to council planners imminent.

The new facilities are still hoped to open next year.

Discussions have taken place over recent months between the planning and project teams to discuss what works can be allowed under permitted development and what needs full planning permission.

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"Families living with SEND issues have been let down. As has the school," the Lib Dem group said in a statement.

"Working with the school, local Lib Dem councillors have been working with council staff to find out what's going on and to speed things up.

"Firstly, we can confirm that the development's Certificate of Lawfulness process has moved forward and is now with the relevant planning authorities, with clearer timescales to follow after statutory consultees have responded.

"These consultees include Warwick District Council, WCC planning and highways and the town council."

Previous plans showed three major extensions are planned to allow for the expansion.

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Comments (1)

This discussion is now closed for comments.

Lizviggers

Actually the consultation showed that more responders were against the school expansion than for it, and even those ‘for it’ were worried about the traffic and parking implications. The Nest SEMH provision already opened last September to pupils, so I do wish reports on this were more balanced and reflective of the consultation and current situation, rather being biased towards the outcome the school/council/councillors want. The SEMH provision and school expansion don’t have to be linked and I personally feel that it would be wrong to consider such a large development under permitted development without giving local residents the opportunity to respond to any revised plans.


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