SILSDEN is to get a new primary school on a greenfield site on the outskirts of town.

The new campus, above Daisy Hill and Silsden Park, will bring together the existing Hothfield Junior School and Aire View Infants School.

The complex, due to be open by 2018, will solve existing overcrowding problems and help meet future demand from families moving into the 1,200 new homes planned for Silsden during the next few years.

Silsden councillor Adrian Naylor revealed the location of the school site to the Keighley News following the council’s recent purchase of land bordering Banklands Lane and Hawber Cote Lane, off Bolton Road.

The newly-bought land will form half the school site, with the other half taking up an existing plot owned by Bradford Council off Middleway and Aireville Mount.

Cllr Naylor said the local authority was due to point design team at the end of last week to start work on the new facility.

He added: “I’ve offered to host a public meeting when the designers have some thoughts to share, so that local people know what designs are being considered before they reach the planning stage.

“The council has completed the acquisition of land and is now moving along to start the process, with the two schools merging in September 2017.

“The council expects to go to the planning committee at some point next year, possibly springtime. We’re looking at a 2018/2019 timeframe for the school to open.

“It hasn’t ruled out moving one part of the school in first and the other one later.”

News of the new school’s location was revealed following behind-closed-door discussions last week by Bradford Council’s ruling executive.

Executive members approved the proposed merger of the existing schools, planned for September next year and previously the subject of public consultation.

They also allocated funding for the new Silsden school complex from the council’s Basic Needs education fund. The cost of the school remains confidential.

The choice of site comes after many months of research, involving Bradford Council officers and ward councillors, to assess several potential sites in the Silsden area.

It is as yet unknown where the entrance to the school will be located, but there are potential access points on two sides, from Middleway/Aireville Mount and Banklands Lane/Hawber Cote Lane.

The two existing schools are due merge into one primary school in September 2017, named Aire View School, and will continue to use both sites until the new campus is built.