High school relocation project set to advance

Plans to relocate and rebuild a replacement Willows High School in Cardiff are set to move forward.A report to Cardiff Council’s cabinet, which meets on 25 February, has outlined proposals which could see the new school relocated to Lewis Road, Splott.It also requests that a non-statutory public engagement on the relocation of the school will take place in spring, giving members of the public the opportunity to find out more about the proposals for the scheme.In December 2017, the cabinet approved plans to address those schools in poor condition. Willows High School was identified as a category ‘D’ school, meaning it is nearing the end of its operational life with ‘unsuitable’ learning environments and was prioritised for investment.If progressed, the project would include building a new school on Lewis Road, Splott, to serve the Adamsdown, Splott and Tremorfa areas; providing access to high quality local sports facilities; and a community focussed school with facilities available for use by the whole community outside of core school hours.There would also be enhanced pedestrian facilities to support active travel arrangements on the Lewis Road site.Pupils will remain at the existing Willows High School site until the new school build is complete to minimise the potential for disruption.Following consultation, the Catholic Archdiocese decided to withdraw plans to close St Alban’s RC Primary School. As a result the proposed enlargement of Baden Powell Primary School would no longer be necessary, and the utilisation of buildings that would have been vacated following the closure of St Alban’s RC Primary School to enlarge Tremorfa Nursery School would not be possible.