A former Catholic primary school site in the centre of Swaffham will be bought by Norfolk County Council to provide a new primary school for the town, Cabinet decided in March.

The Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School site was chosen because of its previous use as a school, its location and its access arrangements — all key factors in assessing whether a site is suitable for education. Pre-application planning advice confirmed that demolishing the existing buildings and developing a new school would be acceptable in principle.

The acquisition forms part of the council's School Sufficiency Plan, which identifies where new or replacement school places are needed across Norfolk.

Cabinet heard that an alternative site considered for expansion in Swaffham — assessed back in 2019 — would have cost more than twice as much as the Sacred Heart site.

Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Innovation Cllr Jane James noted that the proposal would directly support the delivery of the sufficiency plan. Cabinet approved the acquisition on the terms set out in the report. The specific purchase price was contained in an exempt appendix that was not publicly discussed.