We are excited to let you know that a full planning application for the redevelopment of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is soon to be submitted to the Council.
Update 5th December 2025
The planning application for the proposed demolition works was submitted on 6thNovember, and we can now tell you more about the redevelopment proposals for Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School ahead of a full planning application being submitted to the Council.
The proposed redevelopment includes the erection of a new 2-storey building, the reconfiguration and increase of car and cycle / scooter parking provision, and associated landscaping. The new school building will include a hall, library, classrooms, group learning spaces, and a kitchen. There will also be the provision of new hard play areas, a hard sports court and soft landscaping.
The vehicular and pedestrian / cycle accesses to the site will remain in the existing locations. A new pedestrian entrance is also proposed on Foundry Street to provide direct access to the main entrance into the new school building.
During the demolition and redevelopment works, the school will continue to operate in the temporary school buildings.
The redevelopment of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is funded by the Department for Education as part of the School Rebuilding Programme, and they are working in partnership with the Diocese of Lancaster. Galliford Try has been selected by the Department for Education to design and build the new school.
We are holding a drop–in event in the temporary school building at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School for anyone who wants to find out more or who would like to ask any questions about the proposals. The session will run from 4pm to 7pm on Wednesday 10th December 2025.
Please click HERE to view a document that outlines our proposals in more detail ahead of the full planning application submission.
Please click HERE to see our second summary information flyer.
If you have any queries, please send these to the Galliford Try project team at:
sacredheartprimary.uk@avisonyoung.com
Please send questions or comments no later than 19th December 2025
We will be submitting the planning application for the proposed redevelopmentin the new year. Once theapplication has been submitted, it will be available to view online via Westmorland & Furness Council’sonline planning portal:
https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning/search-planningapplication
Subject to receiving planning permission, the school redevelopment is planned to commence in Summer 2026, following the demolition works which are due to commence in March 2026, with the aim of completing the new school building by September 2027.
Update 6th November
The proposed demolition works are the first stage in delivering a new school building for Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and will include the demolition of the existing school building, the presbytery, garage and ancillary structures. (The main Church building will not be affected).
The demolition of the existing buildings is proposed as the buildings are in an unsafe condition and have been closed for school use since January 2023. The school is currently housed in temporary buildings both at the site and at St Bernard’s Catholic High School. During the demolition works, the school will continue to operate in the temporary school building as existing.
Phase 1 of the demolition works (currently scheduled to take place in March-April 2026) will be the demolition of the presbytery, garage and associated structures. A contractor site facility will be installed in the existing car park and works access will be from Pottery Street. The school will continue to access the site from Foundry Street.
Phase 2 of the demolition works (currently scheduled to take place in April-June 2026) will be the demolition of the main school building. An additional works access will be required from Foundry Street for this phase (separate from the temporary school entrance), with the other works access from Pottery Street also retained.
Following the demolition works, a brand-new, purpose-built school will be constructed to provide modern, high-quality learning facilities for pupils at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School. Once the new school proposals are further developed, this website will be updated and we will also hold a drop-in event in the temporary school building where you will be able to find out more and to ask any questions about the proposals. This is likely to be in December 2025.
Following this, a planning application for the site’s redevelopment will be submitted to the Council early in 2026. This will be a separate planning application to the planning application for the demolition works. Two separate applications are needed to allow the demolition works to take place as soon as possible, with the aim of completing the new school building by September 2027.
The redevelopment of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is funded by the Department for Education as part of the School Rebuilding Programme. Galliford Try has been selected by the Department for Education to design and build the new school, and to coordinate and undertake the necessary demolition works.
Please click HERE to see our summary information flyer.
Please click HERE to see our demolition plan.
Please click HERE to see our phasing diagrams.
If you have any queries, please send these to the Galliford Try project team at: sacredheartprimary.uk@avisonyoung.com
We will be submitting the planning application for the demolition works very shortly. Once the application has been submitted, it will be available to view online via Westmorland & Furness Council’s
online planning portal:
https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning/search-planningapplication