Plans for new school buildings progressing

PLANS for new buildings for three primary schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf have taken another step forward.

On Monday, July 18, the council’s cabinet agreed to include new school buildings for Maesybryn in Llantwit Fardre, Tonysguboriau in Talbot Green and Glyncoch as its next projects as part of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

This is the council’s second batch of planned investments under the scheme, which would be funded by the via the Mutual Investment Model (MIM). MIM is a revenue funding route which enables investment up to a capital value of £500m across Wales.

WEPCo is the Welsh Government’s private sector partner and has been appointed to help with the delivery of education and community facilities in Wales, under the MIM Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

Under the MIM, the private sector partner will build and maintain public assets, and in return, the council, supported by funding from the Welsh Government, will pay an annual revenue fee to the private partner for a 25-year contract period, which will cover the cost of construction, building maintenance and financing the project.

At the end of the 25-year contract, the assets revert to the council at no cost.

In December 2021, cabinet approved the submission of a strategic outline case to the Welsh Government for three replacement primary schools to be funded via MIM including a new community primary school for Glyncoch (replacing Cefn and Craig-Yr-Hesg primary schools) and replacement community primary schools for Maesybryn and Tonysguboriau, which collectively form the council’s second MIM project.

The case was submitted to the Welsh Government in March and approval was received in May. Submission of this case was subject to the outcome of the consultation in relation to the new community primary school proposed for Glyncoch which ended in May.

An objections report was presented to cabinet at a meeting in June noting one objection to the proposals and then cabinet approved the closure of Craig Yr Hesg and Cefn primary schools and the opening of a new primary school in Glyncoch.

The council is looking to deliver the projects during the 2025-26 academic year.