BUILDING work on the new school at Barton Farm is due to start next spring, a meeting heard.

THE new Barton Farm Academy primary school is scheduled to open in September 2020.

As the Chronicle reported in the spring, the opening has been put back because the construction rate of the houses is slower than the original forecast.

The University of Winchester Academy Trust, which will sponsor the school, said a decision had been taken over its name.

The trust has decided to stick with the name Barton Farm even though the name of the estate is now Kings Barton, according to developer CALA.

The city council has changed the name of the Barton Farm Forum to Kings Barton Forum.

Alison Lawrence, of the trust, said: "We are sticking with Barton Farm Academy, a deliberate decision based on the work has been done, the design of the school and the heritage of the area."

The school's design is part based on a barn and traditional farm buildings and there were issues of animal welfare and sustainability to consider, said Ms Lawrence.

Nicola Wells has been appointed as the headteacher designate. She is currently deputy head of a school in Andover.

Cllr Jan Warwick asked if there were plans for take children from out of the catchment area of the estate.

Ms Lawrence said: "Th aspiration is this is a school for that community. we have worked with the county council to make sure we are not affecting other schools and making their lives more difficult."

The forum heard that original plans for a temporary school at Henry Beaufort secondary school has now been dropped, because of a lack of demand.

The first phase, called Phase 1B at the northern part of the site, has around 125 completed homes, around half of the total.

Construction of the second tranche, called Phase 1A is at the southern end, near Stoney Lane. It is due to begin this summer and be completed in summer 2019.

The diverted Andover Road, to be known as Winchester Avenue, is due by 650 home occupations, expected to be in 2022, according to a council report.

Steve Tilbury, assistant director at the city council, said the pace of development had picked up. "CALA are building as fast as they can, because they (the homes) are selling well."