The Welsh Government has approved plans for a new £12.9 million replacement primary school in Newtown.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams has given Powys County Council's Strategic Outline Case the go-ahead for a new 270-place school on the current site of Hafren Junior School and Ladywell Green Infants School.

The two schools will merge to create a new all-through primary school named Ysgol Calon y Dderwen, which will open in September 2021.

Cllr Phyl Davies, Cabinet Member for Education at Powys County Council, said: “I’m delighted that our Strategic Outline Case for the new primary school in Newtown has been approved by the Welsh Government.

"This represents another huge investment in our school infrastructure."

The Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme will fund 65 per cent of the £12.9m school with the remaining 35 per cent funded by the council.

The new build will be part of the North Powys Wellbeing programme, which could see a multi-agency wellbeing campus developed alongside the new school, delivering health and social care services together on one site.

Cllr Phyl Davies added: “The existing school buildings are not suitable to meet the needs of a 21st Century curriculum or meet the well-being needs of pupils.

“As part of our Vision 2025, we are committed to providing world-class facilities. We believe that our plans for the new primary school in Newtown not only show this commitment but we will be providing facilities that the children deserve.”

The council will now progress to the Outline Business Case (OBC) stage of the project.