WARRINGTON Borough Council is planning to sell off part of a primary school’s playing fields in order to build houses.

The council has opened a public consultation over the proposed disposal of a 4,995sq metre section of the playing fields at Dallam Community Primary School for a housing development as part of the Harrison Square regeneration project.

Harrison Square is currently being cleared pending the development of 61 homes and two shops.

Warrington Borough Council says that the Boulting Avenue school would benefit from investment in improved sports and external facilities, with 37 affordable homes set to be built on land that it has declared surplus.

A council spokesman said: “The proposals are part of regeneration proposals for the Dallam and Bewsey area and include the creation of new homes and a new sport and leisure facility on Longshaw Street.

“Land directly to the rear of the Harrison Centre currently forms part of the playing field at Dallam Community Primary School.

“Therefore the intention is to include that part of the school playing fields, equivalent to approximately 4,955sq metres, in the redevelopment of the Harrison Centre site to allow more home to be created.

“To compensate for the loss of playing fields, the school will benefit from investment in improved quality sports and external facilities.

“This means that the disposal of the Harrison Centre site and part of the school playing field will deliver significant benefits to the communities of Dallam and Bewsey through increased access to new homes, new sports and leisure facilities at a purpose built community hub and external facilities at Dallam Community Primary school for the benefit of pupils.”

The public consultation will run until July 25 – comments from residents will be forwarded on to the secretary of state for education Nicky Morgan as part of the application process.

Send your views to Access and Assets Team, Warrington Borough Council, New Town House, Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 2NH.