The cost of expanding a Bolton primary school with “much needed" new facilities has risen to more than £3million.

Gaskell Community Primary School in Halliwell was given the green light to expand with a new two storey building and four classrooms in April last year.

But since then, the estimated costs have risen by £353,000 taking the total to £3,886,644.

Bolton Council cabinet member for children’s services Cllr Martin Donaghy said: “Obviously we’re supporting the initiative.

“The costs are something we’re going to have to keep an eye on but this is something that’s really going to improve the facilities for children at Gaskell.”

The Bolton News: The costs were discussed at Bolton CouncilThe costs were discussed at Bolton Council (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “I think the cost of materials and the rise cost of things in general is something we need to watch closely.

“But ultimately its just material costs and this will really be an excellent and much needed new facility for Gaskell.”

Expanding Gaskell Community Primary School was part of an earlier strategy adopted by Bolton Council in 2019 to increase the number of pupils places across the borough.

Planning permission for the new building at the Thomas Holden Street primary school was granted in July 2022, having been lodged in April that year.

The two-storey building will include two classrooms, with cloakrooms and toilets on each floor connected by a central staircase and a lift along with another disabled toilet on the first floor.

A report put before Bolton Council this month said that various factors were behind the rising costs to expand the school.

These included “difficulties within the construction industry”, rising material prices and delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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But it said that the finished expansion would create four new permanent classrooms.

Despite the delays some of the work has already taken place, including condition works to the heating and roofing which has cost around £550,000.

This was funded by money allocated by the government to councils around the country for repair and maintenance work on schools.

 The total £3,886,644 cost includes the money already spent on this work and will be funded by the Children’s Services Capital Programme, allocated by the Department for Education.