COUNCILLORS have welcomed “long overdue” multi-million-pound plans to redevelop a “tired” primary school in Poole.

Hillbourne Primary School has been “a priority” for refurbishment or redevelopment by Poole council for a number of years, due to the poor condition of the existing buildings.

Funding to draw-up a business case for the demolition of its two existing buildings and replacement with a single new facility was allocated in this year’s budget.

The council revealed its plans to redevelop the school building and the use of parts of the site for about 100 new homes last week, after assessing ways to address the poor condition of its two existing buildings.

A draft business case determined that a 25-year refurbishment programme would cost £2m more than the £9m cost of constructing a new facility.

Teachers and governors at the school have welcomed the proposals, saying that the current set-up causes problems, including the extra heating costs.

Included in the project, are plans to build about 100 homes and a sheltered accommodation unit, which would help subsidise the cost of the new building.

Council officers have said that although the final details of the housing provision have not been determined, the option of the site being 100 per cent affordable was on the table.

Members of the borough’s health and social care, young people and business improvement overview and scrutiny committees welcomed the proposals on Monday.

Cllr Les Burden, a former governor at the school, described the proposals as “brilliant” but “long overdue”.

“I’m delighted to hear about this,” he said. “It’s long overdue and has been needed for years but we do seem to have something concrete now.

“What we are trying to do is brilliant and the proposals have my full admiration.”

Poole council had allocated £8m for a rebuild of the school in 2010 but this funding was instead used to expand capacity at several schools across the borough.

Cllr Judy Butt, who opposed the decision at the time, welcomed the latest plans.

She said: “It has been a long-standing commitment of the council from right back into the 90s.

“I’m delighted with this and the way we have worked together on this.

“Now that we have got movement I’m delighted – it’s a brilliant, brilliant way forward.”

Following the backing of the committee, the scheme will go to the council’s cabinet at the end of the month.

The council hopes that, if its plans are approved, the whole development would be completed by the end of October 2021.