A MULTI-MILLION pound funding bid to rebuild four rundown schools has won the backing of councillors.
Primary, secondary and special schools could be revamped using private cash under the Government’s £2bn Priority Schools Building Programme, announced in July – a year after the Coalition scrapped Labour’s £55bn Building Schools for the Future scheme.
Durham County Council’s cabinet yesterday backed proposals to bid for money to improve Seaham School of Technology, Durham Trinity special school, West Cornforth Primary and St Joseph’s RCVA Primary, in Coundon.
Other councils in the region are bidding for, or considering whether to bid for, funding before tomorrow’s deadline.
Ministers will decide which schools get funding in the scheme’s first year by Christmas.
It is expected 50 to 60 UKwide will get cash.
Any school accepted would have to sign a finance package requiring annual revenue payments and utilities deals lasting up to 30 years.
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