![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_How-St-Thomas-Church-of-England-Primary-School-could-look.jpg\")
How St Thomas Church Of England Primary School Could Look<\/p>\nThe application will now go to the secretary of state<\/p>\n
18:14, 06 Aug 2025Updated 18:15, 06 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
How St Thomas Church Of England Primary School Could Look<\/p>\n
A plan to rebuild a crumbling Leigh primary on playing fields – in the face of opposition from Sport England and 300 petition signatories – has been approved by the council.<\/p>\n
But the Wigan<\/a> planning committee decision, to allow the scheme for St Thomas Church of England Primary School, has yet to be approved by the government.<\/p>\n The application will now go to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Angela Rayner due to Sport England\u2019s objections.<\/p>\n To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Ms Rayner could opt to call the decision in, but committee members were told by planning officers they were \u2018optimistic\u2019 that would not happen.<\/p>\n The application was for two parcels of land \u2013 one off Astley Street, where the crumbling school currently stands \u2013 and an area of land off Hawkhurst Street, home to two football pitches and the proposed site of the new school building.<\/p>\n An existing nursery school building and car park will remain in place. Once the old school building is demolished, the area will be restored to become publicly-accessible open space.<\/p>\n Developers have pledged a \u00a3300,000 contribution for a 3G pitch at Hesketh Meadows, nearly four miles away from the site, but Sport England considers this \u2018insufficient to offset the loss of playing field land\u2019, committee members were told.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have advised that the application must be referred to the secretary of state, if approved,\u201d a report read.<\/p>\n