Plans for a new primary school on the former Brymbo Steelworks site are moving forward with funding from the Welsh Government.

Member of the Senedd Ken Skates has welcomed the Welsh Government’s commitment after Education Minister Jeremy Miles has confirmed funding has been agreed in principle for the multi-million pound project, with Wrexham Council due to submit its business case in the spring.

Wider plans for a major renovation of the village’s former steelworks site and surrounding land – which include the new school – have been the subject of lengthy legal discussions in recent years.

But, with a key agreement now in place between landowners Brymbo Developments Ltd and Brymbo Heritage Trust, Mr Skates hopes the school will be built as soon as possible.

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The Clwyd South MS said: “There has been talk of a new school for Brymbo for a long time, and I will do whatever I can to help bring it to fruition. I was told by the Education Minister over the summer that funding is in place but that Wrexham Council had not yet submitted its business case.

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“People in Brymbo ask me what is happening with this project on a regular basis, so I raised the issue with the council in order to get an update for my constituents. I’m very encouraged to hear that WCBC plans to submit its business case as soon as possible.”

Mr Skates continued: “I thank the chief executive, Ian Bancroft, for his detailed response to my inquiry and for outlining what the next steps are.”

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Mr Skates was told that the council is continuing to work with the developers to secure the land required to build the new school. It is also awaiting full details of the scale of the wider development, as well as the financial contributions it will receive from the developer. 

He added: “As soon as the ongoing transfer of land agreed is formally completed, the council will carry out a statutory consultation to increase the capacity of the school in line with future demand. This will happen this academic year. The council intends to submit a business case to the Welsh Government after the informal phase of consultation, so around April.”

Mr Skates added: “The council certainly seems to share the Welsh Government’s enthusiasm for this project, so I’m hoping things can now progress and deliver this for the people of Brymbo.”