Pre-planning consultation on the proposal to build a new 420 place primary school on land at Welborne, Fareham
Closed on
This consultation will run from Monday 9 February to Monday 9 March 2026.
Hampshire County Council wish to consult with you ahead of the proposal to submit a planning application for a new primary school within the new housing development at Welborne, Fareham. At the same time the council is reviewing the school catchment areas for Orchard Lea Infant School and Orchard Lea Junior School to take account of the new housing development at Welborne, Fareham and the new primary school being built there.
The demand for additional places arises as a result of the significant housing development at Welborne, Fareham and will comprise of approximately 6,000 new homes over the next decade. It is planned for three primary schools and a secondary school to be built on the new development.
The proposal
The proposed new primary school is planned to open in September 2028 for ages 4-11 years and would admit up to 30 places for Year R (age 4+) in its first year. It is proposed that the school will grow over time to a total of 60 pupils per year group, an overall total of 420 pupils. The school will have a Resourced Provision supporting pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan and who require additional specialist support.
Site location plan
Proposed site plan
Ground floor plan
First floor plan
Aerial View
Catchment changes
The County Council, as part of its school place planning function, must ensure there are sufficient school places for any new community arising from the housing development. As such, this necessitates a review of catchment areas to ensure:
- that they remain reasonable;
- that extended communities are not fractured by a catchment boundary;
- the forecast size of the child population for the area can be accommodated within the school’s capacity;
- that the new school has an established area that they might operate as a catchment area within their admission arrangements.
The County Council will be seeking to work with the relevant local schools in the area to ensure the admissions authority running the new school can determine a local catchment area to support this principle and contribute to the viability of the new school.
Your views
This consultation will run from Monday 9 February to Monday 9 March 2026.
A drop-in event where you will be able to discuss the proposal with County Council Officers will take place on Thursday 26 February 2026 at The Welborne Welcome Centre, 71 Dashwood Avenue, Fareham, PO17 4AA between 3:00pm and 6:00pm.
If you wish to make a comment on the new primary school proposal, please write to Amanda Vaughan, Strategic Development Officer, Children’s Services Department, Elizabeth II Court, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UG or by email to: [email protected] by 9 March 2026.
What happens after this consultation?
Officers will take into consideration all the consultation responses, prior to the submission of the planning application. You will have a further opportunity to comment on the school proposals should they proceed to the statutory planning stage.