New Lakelands Primary School has official visitors. - Barnes Construction

Our project constructing the £6.5m new 420 place Lakelands Primary School, in Wagtail Mews, Colchester, which has been part funded by Essex County Council and S106 funding, is now nearing completion. With construction paused due to COVID-19, the opening has been rescheduled for the October half term.

On Friday we welcomed Priti Patel, the local Witham MP, to the site to review our progress. Ms Patel was escorted round the building by the Lakelands Head Teacher, Mrs Koulla Anslow, the Chief Executive of The Chelmsford Learning Partnership Paul Banks, ECC portfolio holder for Education and skills Ray Gooding, ECC Project Sponsor Clare Hayden and our construction delivery team.

Ms Patel commented “As a long-term supporter of the school, it is heartening to see this project nearing completion. A great many new homes are being built in Stanway and this kind of infrastructure is badly needed to support the population growth we are seeing. There is no doubt that Covid-19 has held things up but I congratulate everyone involved in keeping the project going by making alternative arrangements for the Reception pupils who started last week and by getting the construction work underway again.

“To be only a half-term behind, given all the difficulties created by the pandemic, is exceptional and I wish Lakelands Primary School every success in the future. I look forward to visiting it again when it is fully open.”