As part of the £100 million redevelopment of Hardwick, work has started on the construction of a new state-of-the-art primary school.

Hardwick Green Primary School will open its doors to pupils in January 2009 and will offer 210 places with a 26-place nursery.

The new £4 million school is being built to aid the relocation of the existing Hardwick Primary School, which is suffering from disrepair.

Following consultation with residents, the new building is being built on an area known as Counden Green, the former site of St Gregory's School. It will also include the provision of a junior football pitch and recreation area, developed in conjunction with Sport England.

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Adult team changing facilities will also be provided on the site to encourage community use of the grounds out of school hours.

Headteacher, Ruth Pickering, said: "We are so excited about moving and it is heartening to see things starting to happen. I am getting parents coming in to see me talking about the new school and it will be a welcome addition to the new Hardwick estate."

Safe pedestrian routes and cycle ways will be provided to link the new school to a newly developed green area, including a junior football pitch, multi-use games area.

(CD/JM)