A CONSTRUCTION company has pulled out of plans to build a new school in Colchester, delaying the works even further.

The intended construction and opening of the permanent buildings for The Trinity School, in Mile End, have been brought to a halt yet again.

A letter from the school sent to parents, seen by the Gazette, said the delays are due to the contractor, Laing O’Rourke Construction, bowing out of the plans for reasons of “commercial viability no longer being possible”.

The Trinity School was due to open later this year at the Chesterwell site.

But, that date was previously pushed back because of delays.

Headteacher Mark Orrin said in the letter: “Delivery of the permanent buildings will now be unavoidably delayed while a new contractor is sought and appointed.”

It is now likely the opening of the permanent buildings will be delayed until, or beyond, September 2023.

Mr Orrin said: “Whilst we are disappointed by this delay in the permanent buildings being provided for us, the staff of The Trinity

School, The Gilberd School and the Alpha Trust are determined to continue to ensure an outstanding quality of education is provided to all students of both The Gilberd and Trinity schools whilst they share a site from September and beyond.

“We are confident that extending Trinity’s stay on site at The Gilberd School will be a smooth extension to the plan already in place and, as such, the educational experience of your child will be unaffected.

“We are optimistic that the Department for Education will appoint a builder who is able to deliver the permanent buildings and will work closely with them to achieve this aim.”

From September the school’s first cohort of pupils will be taught on the site of The Gilberd, in Brinkley Lane, Highwoods, also run by the Alpha Trust.

The buildings will provide space for 240 pupils, with two intakes of 120 planned before Trinity School opens.

There will be eight teaching areas, toilets, group rooms and staff offices in the new buildings, which would be removed after 2023.

A DfE spokesperson said: “We know it will be disappointing to the whole school community that the construction of the permanent buildings for Trinity School is likely to take longer than originally planned.

“We are working to appoint a new contractor as soon as possible. We will continue to work closely with the school throughout this process.”